Blue Jays’ prospect Khal Stephen fans four in high-A debut

The Toronto Blue Jays’ talent pool is growing rapidly more and more at high-A Vancouver these days.

Two days after top pitching prospect Trey Yesavage debuted for the Canadians, punching out 10 over four innings of two-run ball, it was fellow right-hander Khal Stephen’s turn Thursday night against the Eugene Emeralds — the San Francisco Giants’ high-A affiliate.

Stephen battled his command throughout his three innings of work, walking two and hitting another pair, but he only surrendered one run on three hits while striking out four. He finished his first outing with Vancouver after throwing 78 pitches (49 strikes), leaving with an elevated pitch count due to several extended at-bats.

The 22-year-old’s lone run allowed came via a leadoff solo home run to begin the third inning, breaking a scoreless tie at the time. The Canadians went on to drop Thursday’s contest 6-5 to the Emeralds despite receiving a team-high three hits from Arjun Nimmala — the organization’s top prospect per several outlets, including MLB Pipeline — with two going for extra bases, including his ninth home run of 2025.

The 19-year-old shortstop is tied again for the Northwest League lead in home runs alongside Seattle Mariners prospect Lazaro Montes.

Following his high-A debut, Stephen has made nine appearances (eight starts) inside the Blue Jays organization since being selected in the second round last summer, pitching to a 2.13 ERA and 2.73 FIP with 52 strikeouts across 42.1 innings.

The Mississippi State product started seven games and made one relief appearance for single-A Dunedin prior to his promotion, striking out nearly a third of his batters faced and posting a walk rate below five per cent, earning an impressive 2.06 ERA and 2.23 FIP.

Yesavage and Stephen will likely remain in Vancouver through the rest of the first half, forming a talented young staff with Fernando Perez and Jackson Wentworth — another 2024 draftee (fifth round). It should also eventually include fellow pitching prospects Landen Maroudis, Brandon Barriera and Kendry Rojas, all of whom are currently on the mend.