Blue Jays: Looking at Khal Stephen’s performance since the trade

The Toronto Blue Jays had a handful of pitching prospects break out, including 2024 second-round pick Khal Stephen.

Stephen pitched so darn well that he was heading towards becoming a borderline top 100 in the mid-season rankings. However, he was one of a handful of Blue Jays’ prospects traded before the 2025 trade deadline, alongside Kendry Rojas, Alan Roden, Will Wagner, and Juaron Watts-Brown.

On the morning of July 31st, trade deadline day, the 22-year-old was traded to the Cleveland Guardians for the 2020 American League Cy Young winner, Shane Bieber. In this article, we’ll take a look at how Stephen has performed since the trade. 

Before the trade

Drafted 59th overall in the 2024 draft from Mississippi State, the 6’4”, 215 lbs right-handed pitcher signed for a bonus of $1.12 million, below the slot value of $1.49 million. In his short Blue Jays’ stint, Stephen proved to be worth every cent – and more.

Beginning the season in Single-A, Stephen made seven starts in eight appearances and posted a 2.06 ERA and 1.97 FIP in 39.1 innings pitched, with an incredible 31.4 K% to 4.6 BB%. He was a little older for the level, but his mid-90s fastball and secondary pitches were a good precursor to what was to come.

Along with Trey Yesavage and Gage Stanifer, Stephen was promoted to High-A, posting a 1.49 ERA and 2.72 FIP in 48.1 innings pitched with the Vancouver Canadians. The right-handed pitcher’s K% dropped to 26.6%, while his BB% rose slightly to 5.4%, but it was a good stretch of games nonetheless.

Stephen’s final start in the Blue Jays’ system came on July 20th, and it was with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. It wasn’t a particularly great start, as the 22-year-old gave up five runs (four earned) in four innings of work. To make matters worse, he headed to the Injured List shortly after, and was traded a little over a week later.

Since the trade

Stephen spent over a month on the Injured List and didn’t make his debut until August 24th, ironically against the Blue Jays’ Double-A team. In three innings of work, Stephen pitched two batters over the minimum, striking out two in the process before departing.

His other start on August 31st didn’t go nearly as well. Stephen retired just one batter, giving up six earned runs while facing seven batters. With the Guardians, he has a 16.20 ERA and 2.09 FIP in 3.1 innings pitched. Stephen’s K% only stands at 11.1% since joining the American League Central team, but he hasn’t given up a home run or a walk, hence the low FIP.

With two weeks left in the Double-A season, Stephen will likely make two more starts before the season ends.