Jackson Stephens

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #24 prospect in 2018
  Of the 10 rookies to start for the Reds in 2017, only Tyler Mahle was younger than Stephens, who made four starts and three relief appearances in the big leagues. He went five innings and picked up the win against the Cubs in his debut before heading back down to Triple-A Louisville. Stephens was as notable in high school as a quarterback and a third baseman as he was for pitching. And he would have been a two-way player for Alabama had he not signed with the Reds. Another of the Reds' big righthanders, Stephens has a four-pitch mix with his above-average fastball sitting around the 90-92 mph area, but was able to dial it up to 97 in the big leagues. He has good spin on his average curveball, while his slider is more of a show-me below-average pitch. The changeup is average. Stephens may lack a true plus pitch, but his feel for pitching and ability to mix a wide assortment of pitches gives him survival skills. He'll likely start 2018 in Triple-A and get a chance at the big league level throughout the season. His ceiling is probably a back-end-of-the-rotation starter, but he could also be useful out of the bullpen or as a swing man.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #31 prospect in 2016
  Stephens is yet another efficient strike-thrower who won't wow with plus stuff but succeeds by mixing his pitches. That isn't to say that he doesn't have enough stuff; he'll sit 90-93 mph with his fastball, mixing in an average curveball and a fringe to fringe-average slider and changeup. Stephens succeeds because of advanced control. If the Reds' keep him in the rotation, he projects as a back-end starter whose lack of an out pitch and tendency to give up home runs makes a tough fit in Great American Ball Park. He could end up eventually moving to the pen, much like Sam Lecure, another righthander with multiple average offerings, good feel and solid control whose stuff played up in shorter stints. For now, he should be part of a crowded Double-A Pensacola rotation.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #19 prospect in 2014
  A fine high school quarterback, Stephens led the Oxford High baseball team to the Alabama 6A state title with his bat as much as his pitching. He decided to put away his third baseman's mitt after being drafted, turning down a scholarship to play both ways at Alabama to sign with the Reds for $100,000. Held back in extended spring until June, Stephens quickly has established himself as one of the more polished young pitchers in the organization, but one who also has solid stuff. His fastball has gained a tick since he signed. He now sits 91-92 mph and touches 95, pairing his fastball with an average curveball and slider. He can throw all three for strikes, though sometimes he catches more of the zone than he should. Stephens' biggest weakness is a below-average changeup, which explains why he struggles mightily against lefties--they hit .379/.434/.558 at low Class A Dayton in 2013. If Stephens can improve his changeup, he projects as a useful No. 4 or 5 starter. He'll try to earn a trip to Bakersfield in 2014.