Blue Jays Nation’s Mid-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 11: Khal Stephen

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Sep 17, 2024, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 17, 2024, 12:36 EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays’ second-round pick from the 2024 draft won’t make his professional debut until the 2025 season.

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Mid-Season top prospect list, where we’ll look at the 35 best prospects in the Blue Jays system. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publication’s scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at our 11th-best prospect, Khal Stephen!

Getting to know Khal Stephen…

Position: Starting pitcher

Throws: Right

Born: December 21, 2002

Acquired: 2nd-round, 2024 draft (Blue Jays)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

In his first season of collegiate baseball with Purdue University in 2022, Khal Stephen posted an 8.29 ERA in 33.2 innings pitched, along with 23.8 K% and an 11.3 BB%, solely pitching in relief. Stephen started all 14 games he appeared in the following season, posting an improved 5.21 ERA in 76 innings pitched, along with a 19.8 K% and a 9 BB%.

Coming into his draft year, Stephen transferred to Mississippi State University and improved drastically. In 16 starts with the Bulldogs, the righty posted a 3.28 ERA in 96 innings pitched along with a 27.9 K% and a 5.5 BB%. This prompted the Blue Jays to select him with the 59th overall pick.

Mississippi State Baseball

@HailStateBB

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Fire us up Khal! 💪 Stephen ties his career high with his 11th K of the night! 📺» hailst.at/447Fu64 #HailState🐶

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1:22 AM · Apr 20, 2024

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Like many high-drafted Blue Jays pitchers, Stephen didn’t pitch in the minor leagues after the draft. However, he’ll start his professional career in 2025.

Stephen ranked as MLB Pipeline’s seventh-best Blue Jays prospect in their mid-season update. The 6’4”, 215 lb righty sits 92-94 mph with his heater, but touches 96 mph with great carry. Stephen also features a changeup with “significant fade”, as well as a curveball and a slider. The 21-year-old has a great feel for his pitches and has the floor of a back-end-of-the-rotation starter.