Cincinnati Reds: What to do with Robert Stephenson

The Cincinnati Reds’ righty was a top prospect

Robert Stephenson has considerably fallen off the Cincinnati Reds’ prospect chart recently. Before his 2016 season, the right hander ranked #31 on ESPN’s prospect list. Due to his poor season in 2016, he fell to #99 on their list for 2017. This is what Keith Law said about the righty going into this year: ” It’s up to him now to stop overusing the changeup and work on getting fastball to the corners of the zone, because there are major-league opportunities in Cincinnati’s rotation and for the taking this year.”

This is a good description for Stephenson due to the fact that his fastball command will have to translate at the Major League level. He won’t be able to throw a heater down the middle of plate like in the minors. Let’s look into why he isn’t in the rotation.

Cincinnati Reds’ right hander throws hard /hit hard

More from Reds News

• Reds vs. Nationals: Pitching preview, prediction, and more
• Reds: David Bell’s new contract was the right move at the wrong time
• Reds: Multi-run innings have hurt Michael Lorenzen this season
• Reds fan bares all in fulfilling awkward 2021 World Series bet
• Reds: Bullpen quickly becoming a strength of this team

This season, Stephenson’s ERA in the MLB has ballooned to a 8.03 in 13 games. His control is clearly lacking as to the 5.84 BB/9. He hasn’t been able to keep the ball from leaving the yard due to his 2.55 HR/9, and is 1.79 at Triple-A this year, where he is part of a rotation that challenges Cincinnati’s.The former top prospect has struck out hitters at a good clip at 9.85 K/9. But other than that, he hasn’t been great this season. He has shown flashes of a good pitcher, but has struggled (such as July 9th). If the command is there for him, he will progress and be successful.

This is a description of Stephenson through the eye’s of Rich Wilson of Prospect 361: ” When he was in low-A, he could reach back and hit triple-digits.  Now, he’s more controlled and sitting 91 to 94 MPH and topping out at 96 when he needs something extra. It’s still a plus fastball with good life but he does pitch up in the zone. His outpitch is a 78 to 80 MPH breaking ball with good shape, but as his control numbers show, he doesn’t always throw it over the plate. His changeup continues to improve and it projects to be an above-average future offering.” The righty’s control problems will need fixing in order to compete in the MLB.

Next: Todd Frazier vs. Eugenio Suarez - the battle for third

Overall outlook of Cincy’s young starter

If Stephenson can feel out his command issues, he should easily have a rotation spot for the year. He still has the potential for a top of the rotation pitcher, it’s just a matter of honing his skills. A couple intriguing starts in Louisville will give the Reds an outline. With him it’s all about fastball command and the inserting of the off speed. At the very least, he can be a dominant bullpen arm.