After selecting <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/scouting-report-blue-jays-use-top-draft-choice-on-college-pitcher-trey-yesavage">college pitcher Trey Yesavage</a> with their top selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays went back to the same well with their second-round pick. At 59th overall, the Blue Jays selected right-hander Khal Stephen out of Mississippi State. 
Khal Stephen came into the draft ranked 88th of 250 prospects ranked by Major League Baseball. He attended Seeger Memorial High School in Indianapolis. Staying in the state, Stephen committed to Purdue University where he spent his freshman and sophomore years. He then transferred over to Mississippi State. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Khal Stephen this season at Mississippi State:
96.0 IP (16 GS) 76 H (13 HR) 37 R (35 ER) 21 BB, 107 Ks 3.28 ERA 1.01 WHIP .213 OPP AVG
Welcome to Toronto 🇨🇦 <a href="https://t.co/48n282f35h">pic.twitter.com/48n282f35h</a>
&mdash; BlueJays Muse (@BlueJays_Muse) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays_Muse/status/1812682246433669536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>College Career</h2>
Stephen was a true 2021 graduate and started his college baseball career, competing in the Big Ten Conference for Purdue. As expected, his freshman year was not a great showcase for the righty, and he received mound time that is appropriate for first-year players. 
He threw 33 and ⅔ innings going 3-4 with a mindblowing 8.29 ERA. Stephen found himself to be mostly a reliever, which he continued into the following season. His ERA in 2023 was slashed to 5.21 and his innings increased to 76. 
He struck out almost twice the batters he walked, however, he was still stuck in the reliever role. Stephen’s pitch profile showed to be more than a reliever, with longevity out of the gate and the ability to serve five-plus innings a game. Stephen took his talents to the Southeastern Conference to pitch for Mississippi. 
Prior to the 2024 season, the right-hander took to the Cape Cod League to play summer ball. He posted a 2.73 ERA there and his repertoire shone bright. 
This year, the SEC was a good look for Stephen. He finished with an 8-3 record, .727 win-loss percentage, 96 innings pitched, 107 strikeouts, and 21 walks. His performance here pushed the envelope for him to be a starter and his draft stock forward. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Khal Stephen, 21, had a 27.9% K rate in 96 IP with Mississippi State this past season. 
$1.49M slot value
As you can see, Stephen&#39;s slider is pretty filthy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a><a href="https://t.co/jTgFC0snYG">pic.twitter.com/jTgFC0snYG</a>
&mdash; Thomas Hall (@Hall_Thomas_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hall_Thomas_/status/1812680190310617213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Scouting Synopsis</h2>
Stephen meets the physical eye test. He’s filled out with a college-body structure at 6’4” 225lbs. The right-hander is long in the limbs and athletic from top to bottom. He is not the most overpowering arm, but he can light it up at times.
The right-hander&#8217;s fastball sits at the low of 92 mph and the max of 96, living between 92-94 mph. The heater does have a lot of life and ride on it, making it difficult to barrel up. He employs two mediocre breaking pitchers, in a curveball and slider. Both pitches need work and refinement. The slider has the potential to be a put-away option. His changeup is his current out pitch that sits early 80s and floats low with fade. 
Stephen needs to polish up on his breaking balls to give another option. His fastball over time will be noticeable and taken advantage of. If he doesn&#8217;t improve another wipeout pitch, he might profile long-term as a relief pitcher.

After selecting <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/scouting-report-blue-jays-use-top-draft-choice-on-college-pitcher-trey-yesavage">college pitcher Trey Yesavage</a> with their top selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Toronto Blue Jays went back to the same well with their second-round pick. At 59th overall, the Blue Jays selected right-hander Khal Stephen out of Mississippi State. 

Khal Stephen came into the draft ranked 88th of 250 prospects ranked by Major League Baseball. He attended Seeger Memorial High School in Indianapolis. Staying in the state, Stephen committed to Purdue University where he spent his freshman and sophomore years. He then transferred over to Mississippi State. 



https://twitter.com/BlueJays_Muse/status/1812682246433669536
<h2>College Career</h2>
Stephen was a true 2021 graduate and started his college baseball career, competing in the Big Ten Conference for Purdue. As expected, his freshman year was not a great showcase for the righty, and he received mound time that is appropriate for first-year players. 

He threw 33 and ⅔ innings going 3-4 with a mindblowing 8.29 ERA. Stephen found himself to be mostly a reliever, which he continued into the following season. His ERA in 2023 was slashed to 5.21 and his innings increased to 76. 

He struck out almost twice the batters he walked, however, he was still stuck in the reliever role. Stephen’s pitch profile showed to be more than a reliever, with longevity out of the gate and the ability to serve five-plus innings a game. Stephen took his talents to the Southeastern Conference to pitch for Mississippi. 

Prior to the 2024 season, the right-hander took to the Cape Cod League to play summer ball. He posted a 2.73 ERA there and his repertoire shone bright. 

This year, the SEC was a good look for Stephen. He finished with an 8-3 record, .727 win-loss percentage, 96 innings pitched, 107 strikeouts, and 21 walks. His performance here pushed the envelope for him to be a starter and his draft stock forward. 

https://twitter.com/Hall_Thomas_/status/1812680190310617213
<h2>Scouting Synopsis</h2>
Stephen meets the physical eye test. He’s filled out with a college-body structure at 6’4” 225lbs. The right-hander is long in the limbs and athletic from top to bottom. He is not the most overpowering arm, but he can light it up at times.

The right-hander's fastball sits at the low of 92 mph and the max of 96, living between 92-94 mph. The heater does have a lot of life and ride on it, making it difficult to barrel up. He employs two mediocre breaking pitchers, in a curveball and slider. Both pitches need work and refinement. The slider has the potential to be a put-away option. His changeup is his current out pitch that sits early 80s and floats low with fade. 

Stephen needs to polish up on his breaking balls to give another option. His fastball over time will be noticeable and taken advantage of. If he doesn't improve another wipeout pitch, he might profile long-term as a relief pitcher.

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