Eric Stephenson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #29 prospect in 2003
  Stephenson entered 2002 as one of the organization's better-regarded lefthanders but struggled to live up to billing on a talented Charleston rotation. His father Earl pitched in the big leagues, and it's not too late for Stephenson to do the same. He still has good stuff, starting with an 88-92 mph fastball. He's learning to command the pitch and needs to throw it more and rely less on his above-average curveball. His curve is one of the better breaking balls in the organization, but Stephenson needs to be more aggressive with the pitch and stop nibbling. That got him into trouble both in falling behind hitters and in lacking the efficiency to pitch deep into games. With more maturity, Stephenson will pitch inside more and realize that while his curve is a power pitch, his fastball is too. He could return to low Class A or earn a promotion to high Class A with a good spring-training showing.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #15 prospect in 2002
  The Blue Jays have a burning need for lefthanders, and the only big league remedy would be a healthy return by Mike Sirotka. Stephenson has the highest ceiling among the lefties in the farm system, but Toronto will have to be patient with him. He has added an inch and 10-15 pounds since signing and has continued to grow into his stuff, which already turns heads. Stephenson, whose father Earl pitched in the majors, has a plus fastball for a lefty at 88-92 mph. That's quite a jump from when he signed, when he threw 80-85 mph, but his growing strength and increasingly smoother mechanics turned his fastball into a second plus pitch. His best remains a big breaking pitch one Jays scout termed "the curveball from hell." When he throws both for strikes, he reminds the organization of Andy Pettitte. He'll get his first taste of full-season ball this year, joining Dustin McGowan and Brandon League in a prospect-heavy Charleston rotation.