Although the Triple-A Debut of Cincinnati Reds' top prospect Robert Stephenson, was expected to have occurred much earlier, the twenty-two year old did not disappoint when he finally stepped onto the mound Friday night for the Louisville Bats. Stephenson persevered with a 3-2 victory.
Stephenson, MLB.com's 18th top prospect, began his professional career much more slowly than other first-round picks in the 2011 MLB Draft as he did not make his first start in the Reds' organization until the spring of 2012. Actually, though, the right-hander did not start moving quickly through the farm system until 2013 when he pitched in three levels, starting with Dayton (Single-A) and finishing the season with Pensacola (Double-A).
The following year, Stephenson started back in Pensacola and, despite showing glimpses of greatness, his erratic command caused him to permit more than one free pass in twenty-one of his twenty-seven pitching appearances in 2014, ultimately resulting in more earned runs allowed.
Despite the 2014 All-Star Futures Game selection walking forty-three batters in seventy-eight and one/thirds innings this season for the Blue Wahoos, Stephenson was terrific in Double-A (4-7 record and 3.68 earned run average) and averaged 10.23 strikeouts per nine innings (eighty-nine strikeouts), leading to his promotion to the next level.
Friday night's opponent, the Columbus Clippers, could not have offered a better lineup for the youngster to face as Columbus' starting lineup featured seven players with Major League experience.
Nonetheless, Stepheson started attacking hitters right out of the gate and struck out the lead-off batter, Cleveland Indians' prospect Tyler Naquin, for his first Triple-A strikeout. After surrendering a hit to Jose Ramirez and getting the power hitting Jesus Aguilar to pop up, the Triple-A rookie was able to sit down Lonnie Chisenhall for his second strikeout of the inning.
The first inning went well for Stephenson, but when would his command issues start? They would start in the third inning to be exact.
In the third, the righty immediately started the inning with a walk to Tyler Holt. Holt then stole second base with Adam Moore at the dish to get into scoring position, creating Stephenson's first ever Triple-A jam. Spoiler alert! He would not escape unscathed.
After Moore struck out, Naquin achieved revenge on Stephenson with an RBI double to tie the game at one. Then, Ramirez continued his success against the pitcher and drove in Naquin with an RBI single, which seized a one-run lead for Columbus.
Luckily, the Bats' defense picked up their hurler by center fielder Ryan LaMarre catching an Aguilar fly out for the second out, and catcher Chris Berset's gunning down of Ramirez at second base for out number three.
In the next inning, a walk to Jerry Sands with one out started another threat to Stephenson, yet, unlike in the previous inning, he was able to strikeout Zach Walters and throw out Holt, who bunted a grounder towards the mound, to add another zero on the board.
In his fifth and final inning, the Reds' top pitching prospect added another scoreless frame after giving up a Ramirez two-out single.
With the score knotted at two and reliever Jumbo Diaz looking to come on to pitch in the top of the sixth, Louisville Bats' All-Star Irving Falu doubled with Ryan LaMarre on second base to claim the lead for his team just in time for Stephenson to be in line for his first career Triple-A victory.
As tonight's winner, Stephenson ended his Triple-A Debut allowing only two earned runs on four hits in five innings pitched while walking three and striking out six. The twenty-seventh overall pick from the 2011 MLB Draft will look to stay perfect and improve his record to 2-0 in his next scheduled start Wednesday at Louisville Slugger Field against division leading Indianapolis.