Jordan Stephens

Position: RHP
Born: 9/12/1992
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 180 lb
Acquired: Drafted 5th round in the 2015 draft out of Rice
Career Stats

FutureSox Prospect Rankings

  • #16 – 2016 Preseason
  • #8 – 2016 Midseason
  • #11 – 2017 Preseason
  • #15 – 2017 Midseason
  • #15 – 2018 Preseason
  • #16 – 2018 Midseason
  • #19 – 2019 Preseason

FutureSox Media

Scouting Report

With the White Sox not having second or thirrd round picks in 2015, and the trade of fourth-rounder Zack Erwin just six months after he was drafted, Stephens was quickly the second-highest pick still in the organization from the 2015 draft (behind only Carson Fulmer). This right-hander grew up in Alvin, Texas, (hometown of Nolan Ryan). He threw two full seasons as a starter at Rice (2012-2013), but then suffered a torn UCL in 2014 and had Tommy John surgery. He returned during the 2015 season (less than a year after surgery) and threw 59.2 innings before being drafted.

Careful not to push his recovery, Stephens pitched in just 11 abbreviated outings across both rookie affiliates in his draft year. He had no trouble with AZL and Pioneer League hitters (17.2 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 21 K) as a 22-year-old. For 2016, he was double-promoted to High-A Winston-Salem, where he performed quite well despite the accelerated recovery path: 3.45 ERA, 3.1 BB/9, 9.9 K/9 in 141 IP. During spring training in 2017, Jordan went down with forearm tendonitis, pushing back his season opening to June. But he performed well in Double-A, booking a 3.14 ERA, 3.4 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 in 16 starts.

In 2018, Jordan breezed through seven starts back at Double-A (2.95 ERA, striking out more than a batter per inning). He was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte where his numbers weren’t as strong (4.71 ERA, 9.6 H/9, 3.5 BB/9, 8.3 K/9) in 21 starts. He earned a spot on the 40-man roster and returned to Charlotte in 2019, at 26 years old, and got shelled. The Indians picked him up off waivers in June.

Stephens has a relatively short, but strong frame throws a low 90s 4-seamer that will ride to mid-90s along with a recently added/refined slider/cutter, curveball and change. The curve and 2-seamer have both drawn good reviews from scouts, with the former being his “out” pitch at Rice. His delivery features a low set, pause at the top of a slower leg kick, high 3/4 arm angle and appears to have typical effort level. The overall package looks like a potential back-end starter, but middle relief could also work for him.