Khal Stephen Stats & Scouting Report

IP	31.0
ERA	1.74
WHIP	0.970
BB/9	2.0
SO/9	8.7

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/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.