The Cleveland Guardians lost one of their best players at the trade deadline but got a potential star in return.
They chose to trade ace Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays, and while some didn’t seem to care for that move, with the Blue Jays as a potential playoff foe, the return may have been too good to pass on.
With that in mind, Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report gushed about Khal Stephen and his potential.
“After two years at Purdue, right-hander Khal Stephen transferred to Mississippi State for his draft season and impressed against SEC competition, finishing 8-3 with a 3.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 107 strikeouts in 96 innings. The Toronto Blue Jays selected him with the No. 59 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 draft, and he has shined in his pro debut this year, posting a 2.06 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 91.2 innings over three minor league levels. The 22-year-old has a durable [6-foot-4] frame, four quality pitches and good command, giving him an extremely high floor and making him a safe bet to develop into a back-of-the-rotation starter with potential for more,” Reuter wrote.
Stephen turned plenty of heads in his first season with the Blue Jays’ organization, dominating with a 9-1 record in 17 starts.
He was recently promoted to Double-A, and while he’s projected to be in the majors by 2027, his quick rise could change that arrival.
He has drawn buzz with a four-pitch repertoire and keeps hitters guessing with a changeup in the mid-80s and a fastball that reaches 96 mph.
The Guardians could’ve gotten a compensatory draft pick if Bieber had declined his player option for next season and signed with another team as a free agent.
As such, they only considered trading him if they could get something better in return or a player more valuable than what they could’ve gotten with that compensatory selection.
Landing a quick riser like Stephen certainly fit that bill.
NEXT: Nic Enright Saves Guardians With Excellent Relief Appearance On Monday
