Robert Stephenson reminds me of another some-time-ago Reds prospect, Edinson Volquez. Nasty stuff that some people thought could turn into a number two starter. Unfortunately, for a while, Edinson was just a number two, but not as in a starter. Then Ray Searage happened. The Pirates pitching coach fixed Edinson like Chris Martin fixed Gwyneth or like Bill Cosby fixed your mom’s drink in the late 70s, essentially helping Edinson harness his control. Edinson maxes out at 98 MPH, and Stephenson goes above that, touching 100 MPH on occasion. Everything else looks to be similar. Stephenson has no control, and the videos of him give me the impression that he’s still a thrower, not a pitcher. It’s God’s cruel joke that guys that throw fast can never command their pitches. Or Vishnu’s cruel joke if you’re reading in India. Or General Tso if you’re reading in China. Or Ben Carson if you’re a once-conjoined twin reading this in a church. If Stephenson wasn’t ready for a starting rotation job out of this spring and able to have a 9+ K/9, we wouldn’t be here talking about him, but we are here and we are talking about him. Anyway, what can we expect of Robert Stephenson for 2016 fantasy baseball?
A plus-plus fastball gives me the pimplies of goose on my arms because it comes with strikeouts. Why are strikeouts so important? Because everything comes off of that. Look at Carlos Carrasco, for unstints. Has 9+ K/9 stuff but a 4+ BB/9, and blech. But that was years ago. Then he harnesses his control and he’s a 9+ K/9 guy with a 2.66 xFIP last year. That’s the future for big-time fastball guys if they can harness their control, because if a guy isn’t walking hitters, they have to swing. If a hitter has to swing against a pitcher that can strike them out, then great things can happen. Stephenson could be Tony Cingrani or he could be a top 20 fantasy starter. Anecdotal Evidence Alert! These type of pitchers never seem to put it together in their first year, and Stephenson is only 22 years old with only 55 2/3 IP of Triple-A under his belt. I wouldn’t be surprised if Stephenson isn’t his true, sexy self until 2019, and, ya know what, he’d be only 25 years old and still young to be putting it together. This doesn’t bode particularly well for redraft leagues for this year. However, I would be shocked if Stephenson isn’t in the majors either on Opening Day or Altuvely after, so there is potential here for a deep league flyer. For 2016, I’ll give him the line of 6-10/4.05/1.42/145 in 150 IP. And, guess what, guys and five girls, starting on Monday is sleepers (barring a big signing this weekend). *takes a deep breath* Ew, who farted?
