Khal Stephen Stats & Scouting Report

IP	4.0
ERA	9.00
WHIP	1.500
BB/9	2.3
SO/9	4.5

Full name Michael Khalden Stephen
Born 12/21/2002 in Danville, IL
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Purdue
Drafted in the 2nd round (59th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024 (signed for $1,116,750).

View Draft Report

School: Mississippi State
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.

Stephen started his career at Purdue where he had reasonable success as a starter in the 2023 season before a strong summer in the Cape Cod League where he posted a 2.73 ERA in 26.1 innings. He transferred to Mississippi State for the 2024 season and shoved early in the year to jump into top-five round consideration. He finished the year with a 3.28 ERA over 96 innings and 16 starts with a 27.9% strikeout rate and 5.5% walk rate. A 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander, Stephen has an excellent pitcher’s frame and throws from a higher three-quarters slot. He has a deep mix of four distinct pitches, though he relied on his fastball/slider combination for about 85% of his usage this spring. The fastball sits in the 91-94 mph range and gets up to 96 with above-average ride and carry at the top of the zone. He did a nice job establishing the pitch for strikes and helping to set up his low-to-mid-80s slider that flashes gyro action at times and more sweeping life at others. Stephen throws a mid-80s changeup as his primary secondary against lefthanders, and will also mix in an occasional upper-70s curveball. Stephen’s solid blend of quality stuff, size and starter performance should get him selected early on day two if he isn’t taken on day one.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Average

Adjusted Grade: 40

Track Record: Stephen was a well-rounded pitching prospect coming out of Mississippi State and signed with the Blue Jays for $1.12 million in the second round of the 2024 draft. The Guardians acquired him in a 2025 deadline trade that sent Shane Bieber to the Blue Jays. Stephen pitched well across three levels in his pro debut season and topped out at Double-A. In total, he posted a 2.53 ERA in 21 starts and 103 innings with a 27.1% strikeout rate and 4.9% walk rate. He missed a few weeks with a right shoulder impingement in the middle of the summer.

Scouting Report: Stephen has a prototype starter’s frame at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and fills up the zone with a deep mix of pitches that includes a four-seam fastball, slider, splitter, curveball and cutter. Stephen sits around 93 mph with his fastball and will reach back for 96, but the pitch is amplified by his excellent spin efficiency, riding life and above-average extension. The performance of his fastball backed up a bit after he returned from his shoulder injury, but at its best it is a swing-and-miss pitch that he can use to miss barrels and execute for strikes at a high level. Developing a secondary with above-average potential to complement his fastball will unlock more upside, and he has a number of candidates. He throws a mid-80s slider, a mid-80s splitter, an 88-91 mph cutter and an upper-70s curveball. The slider, splitter and cutter are all solid-average pitches—and he generated a 37% miss rate with both the slider and cutter in 2025—but none is a no-doubt above-average offering.

The Future: Stephen has likely back-end starter potential as an athletic strike-thrower with above-average control and a deep pitch mix. With a strong offseason and continued performance, he could be in line to make his major league debut in the second half of 2026.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Split: 50 | Control: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: A standout athlete and native of Indiana, Stephen spent two seasons at Purdue, working as a reliever as a freshman before moving into the starting rotation as a sophomore. Stephen entered the transfer portal prior to his junior season and enrolled at Mississippi State. He experienced a standout season in 2024 despite making the sizable jump to the Southeastern Conference. There, he made 16 starts and posted an 8-3 record, 3.28 ERA and 107 strikeouts to 21 walks over 96 innings. Following the season, the Blue Jays selected Stephen in the second round and signed him for a bonus of a little more than $1.1 million. Stephen did not pitch following the draft. He will debut in 2025.

Scouting Report: An above-average athlete with a prototypical starter’s build at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Stephen’s delivery is smooth and athletic. He repeats it well and gets over his front side consistently. He uses a higher three-quarters arm slot with a quick snap at release. Stephen mixes five pitches: a four-seam fastball, slider, curveball, changeup and cutter. His fastball sits 92-93 mph and touches 96, with up to 20 inches of induced vertical break regularly. His primary secondary is a slider with some ride and sweep that sits in the low-to-mid 80s and generated whiffs at a rate of 40% in 2024. Stephen’s didn’t throw his changeup much in 2024 but it showed good results and boasted a 23% swinging-strike rate and a 61% groundball rate. Stephen throws a Bugs Bunny-style changeup that mimics fastball movement. He also mixes a curveball and a cutter, but neither is used regularly. Stephen shows above-average command of his pitch mix.

The Future: Stephen has midrotation upside but is more than likely a No. 5 starter with a middle relief floor.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 55.

Draft Prospects

School: Mississippi State Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Curveball: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.

Stephen started his career at Purdue where he had reasonable success as a starter in the 2023 season before a strong summer in the Cape Cod League where he posted a 2.73 ERA in 26.1 innings. He transferred to Mississippi State for the 2024 season and shoved early in the year to jump into top-five round consideration. He finished the year with a 3.28 ERA over 96 innings and 16 starts with a 27.9% strikeout rate and 5.5% walk rate. A 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander, Stephen has an excellent pitcher’s frame and throws from a higher three-quarters slot. He has a deep mix of four distinct pitches, though he relied on his fastball/slider combination for about 85% of his usage this spring. The fastball sits in the 91-94 mph range and gets up to 96 with above-average ride and carry at the top of the zone. He did a nice job establishing the pitch for strikes and helping to set up his low-to-mid-80s slider that flashes gyro action at times and more sweeping life at others. Stephen throws a mid-80s changeup as his primary secondary against lefthanders, and will also mix in an occasional upper-70s curveball. Stephen’s solid blend of quality stuff, size and starter performance should get him selected early on day two if he isn’t taken on day one.

Career Transactions

Akron RubberDucks activated RHP Khal Stephen from the 7-day injured list.
Akron RubberDucks activated RHP Khal Stephen from the 7-day injured list.
RHP Khal Stephen assigned to Akron RubberDucks.
Cleveland Guardians traded RHP Shane Bieber to Toronto Blue Jays for RHP Khal Stephen.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats placed RHP Khal Stephen on the 7-day injured list.
RHP Khal Stephen assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats from Vancouver Canadians.
RHP Khal Stephen assigned to Vancouver Canadians from Dunedin Blue Jays.
RHP Khal Stephen assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from FCL Blue Jays.
RHP Khal Stephen assigned to FCL Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays signed RHP Khal Stephen.
College Workout activated RHP Khal Stephen.
RHP Khal Stephen assigned to Purdue Boilermakers.