The #BlueJays are promoting Khal Stephen to Double-A, source says. Stephen (No. 9 prospect) has a 1.75 ERA with 97 K in 87.2 IP. One of the best stories in their system this year. He’ll join Trey Yesavage in a stacked AA rotation including Juaron Watts-Brown and Kendry Rojas.
Report: Blue Jays pitching prospect Khal Stephen promoted to New Hampshire
Photo credit: © Bruce Newman/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jul 14, 2025, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 13, 2025, 22:21 EDT
Amidst the excitement of the MLB Draft, which saw the Blue Jays select infielder JoJo Parker at eighth overall, the organization also made some internal moves with one of their top pitching prospects.
Per Keegan Matheson at MLB.com, right-hander Khal Stephen is being promoted to double-A New Hampshire. The organization’s #9-ranked prospect via MLB Pipeline, he joins fellow 2024 draftee Trey Yesavage on the East Coast.
Stephen started the 2025 season in single-A Dunedin but has dominated at every level. Through eight outings in Dunedin, Stephen authored a 2.06 ERA through 39 1/3 innings and struck out 48 batters to the tune of an 11.0 K/9. He also commanded his pitches well, walking just seven batters, and compiled a 0.915 WHIP.
He, Yesavage, and Gage Stanifer were all promoted to high-A Vancouver in mid-May, and Stephen continued to pitch well in the Northwest League.
The 22-year-old amassed a 1.49 ERA and a 2.78 FIP through nine starts with Vancouver. Across 48 1/3 innings, Stephen generated a 0.848 WHIP and allowed just 31 hits, good for a 5.8 H/9. He also continued to keep his command dialled in (1.9 BB/9) but saw a slight dip in the strikeout numbers with his increase in competition, putting forth a 9.1 K/9.
Stephen was named the Northwest League Pitcher of the Month for June, allowing just three earned runs through 28 1/3 innings to the tune of a 0.95 ERA. He limited hitters to a .180/.224/.250 slash line and a .474 OPS in the span, which helped in his quest for the next level.
Khal Stephen keeps spinning gems at High-A 💎 The @BlueJays' 2024 second-rounder spins 6 innings of one-run ball, sporting a 1.49 ERA through 9 @vancanadians starts.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats will host the Binghamton Rumble Ponies this upcoming weekend (they are all off until then, given the All-Star break) before welcoming the Hartford Yard Goats the week after. Stephen joins a rotation that features a ton of the organization’s top arms, such as Yesavage, Kendry Rojas, Grant Rogers, and Juaron Watts-Brown.
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