Robert Stephenson (baseball)

Robert William Stephenson (born February 24, 1993) is an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, he plays in minor league baseball for the Cincinnati Reds organization. He is a member of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Class AA Southern League.

Stephenson threw two consecutive no-hitters while in high school, and was named California's high school player of the year by Gatorade. The Reds drafted him in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, with the 27th overall selection.

Early life

Stephenson began pitching when he was nine years old.^[1]

Career

Amateur career

Stephenson attended Alhambra High School in Martinez, California, which he graduated from with a 4.2 grade point average. Stephenson's senior season for the high school's baseball team began with two consecutive no-hitters.^[2] He finished the season with a 8–2 win-loss record and 1.19 earned run average (ERA) in 76 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.^[3] He recorded 142 strikeouts, while walking 23 and allowing 29 hits. Alhambra reached the North Coast Section Division III playoffs' second round.^[4]

Stephenson was named the Gatorade California Baseball Player of the Year.^[4] He was rated by Baseball America as the 25th-best prospect in that year's draft,^[2] and the 12th best right-handed pitching prospect in the draft.^[5] He was invited to participate in the 2010 Aflac All-America Game; Stephenson was named the starting pitcher for the West Team and pitched two scoreless innings.^[6] Stephenson committed to attend the University of Washington to play college baseball for the Washington Huskies baseball team.^[3][6]

Professional career

Considered a possible first round selection,^[7] the Reds selected Stephenson in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft, with the 27th overall selection. Stephenson became the Reds' first high school player chosen in the first round of the MLB Draft since they chose catcher Devin Mesoraco in the first round of the in 2007 Draft, and the first prep school pitcher the organization had chosen in the first round since the selection of Homer Bailey in the 2004 Draft.^[2] Stephenson signed with the Reds for a reported $2 million signing bonus.^[3] Baseball America rated Stephenson as one of the Reds' top ten prospects before the 2012 season, despite his not having made his professional debut.^[8] Stephenson began the 2012 season in extended spring training.^[9]

Stephenson made his professional debut with the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie-level Pioneer League on June 19, 2012. He pitched five innings and struck out eight batters.^[10] In seven games with Billings, Stephenson had a 2.05 ERA, allowing only 22 hits and eight walks in 30 ²⁄₃ innings pitched, while striking out 37.^[11] In July, the Reds promoted Stephenson to the Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League.^[12] For Dayton, Stephenson had a 4.19 ERA in eight starts, as he allowed 32 hits and 15 walks, while striking out 35 batters.^[11]

The Reds assigned Stephenson to begin the 2013 season with Dayton.^[13] After pitching to a 5–3 win-loss record and a 2.57 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 77 innings, he was promoted to the Bakersfield Blaze of the Class A-Advanced California League on July 18.^[14] Less than a month later, after pitching to a 2–2 record and a 3.05 ERA with Bakersfield, the Reds promoted Stephenson to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Class AA Southern League in August,^[1] as Reds' general manager Walt Jocketty said the team wanted to "fast track" Stephenson, who he called "very impressive".^[15]

The Reds invited Stephenson to spring training as a non-roster invitee in 2014.^[16]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)