Cincinnati Reds: 3 biggest draft disappointments since 2010

2. Robert Stephenson was the Reds top prospect in 2014.

The 2011 MLB Draft was loaded with talent. Looking up and down through the first-round, countless All-Stars litter the draft board. George Springer, Javier Baez, Anthony Rendon, Gerrit Cole, Sonny Gray, Blake Snell, Trevor Bauer, Francisco Lindor, and Mookie Betts were all taken in the 2011 MLB Draft. So was former Reds pitcher Robert Stephenson.

The Reds were not wrong to take Stephenson with the No. 27 overall pick in the draft, but the right-hander never materialized into the type of pitcher the organization expected. Slated to be a future frontline starter, Stephenson was the Reds first high schooler taken the in the first-round since Devin Mesoraco was taken in 2007.

Stephenson had the makeup of a No. 1 starter. His fastball lit up the radar gun, and the right-hander also possessed a slider, curveball, and changeup. Command was always an issue for Stephenson who once proclaimed that walks were part of his game. In fact, during his brief major league stint in 2018, Stephenson’s BB/9 was an appealing 9.26 according to FanGraphs.

The new coaching staff seemed to help Stephenson get on track during the 2019 season, one in which he was moved to the bullpen. He enjoyed his best season to date and looked to be a key piece of the Cincinnati bullpen heading into the 2020 season. But a poor showing in the pandemic-shortened season saw Stephenson’s standing with the Reds become precarious.

Robert Stephenson was dealt to the Colorado Rockies along with Jameson Hannah for another former first-round pitcher, Jeff Hoffman. Cincinnati also acquired 2020 fourth-round pick Case Williams in the deal.