Robert Stephenson

Robert William Stephenson (born February 24, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut on April 7, 2016.

Stephenson threw two consecutive no-hitters while in high school, and was named California's high school player of the year by Gatorade. The Reds drafted him in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft with the 27th overall selection.

Amateur career

Stephenson began pitching when he was nine years old. He attended Alhambra High School in Martinez, California, which he graduated from with a 4.2 grade point average. Stephenson's senior season for the high school's baseball team began with two consecutive no-hitters. He finished the season with an 8–2 win–loss record and 1.19 earned run average (ERA) in ​76 ⁄₃ innings pitched. He recorded 142 strikeouts, while walking 23 and allowing 29 hits. Alhambra reached the North Coast Section Division III playoffs' second round.

Stephenson was named the Gatorade California Baseball Player of the Year. He was rated by Baseball America as the 25th-best prospect in that year's draft, and the 12th best right-handed pitching prospect in the draft. He was invited to participate in the 2010 Aflac All-America Game; Stephenson was named the starting pitcher for the West Team and pitched two scoreless innings. Stephenson committed to attend the University of Washington to play college baseball for the Washington Huskies baseball team.

Professional career

Considered a possible first round selection, the Reds selected Stephenson in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, with the 27th overall selection. Stephenson became the Reds' first high school player chosen in the first round of the MLB draft since they chose catcher Devin Mesoraco in the first round of the 2007 draft, and the first prep school pitcher the organization had chosen in the first round since the selection of Homer Bailey in the 2004 draft. Stephenson signed with the Reds for a reported $2 million signing bonus. Baseball America rated Stephenson as one of the Reds' top ten prospects before the 2012 season, despite his not having made his professional debut. Stephenson began the 2012 season in extended spring training.

Stephenson made his professional debut with the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie-level Pioneer League on June 19, 2012. He pitched five innings and struck out eight batters. In seven games with Billings, Stephenson had a 2.05 ERA, allowing only 22 hits and eight walks in ​30 ⁄₃ innings pitched, while striking out 37. In July, the Reds promoted Stephenson to the Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League. For Dayton, Stephenson had a 4.19 ERA in eight starts, as he allowed 32 hits and 15 walks, while striking out 35 batters.

The Reds assigned Stephenson to begin the 2013 season with Dayton. After pitching to a 5–3 win-loss record and a 2.57 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 77 innings, he was promoted to the Bakersfield Blaze of the Class A-Advanced California League on July 18. Less than a month later, after pitching to a 2–2 record and a 3.05 ERA with Bakersfield, the Reds promoted Stephenson to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Class AA Southern League in August, as Reds' general manager Walt Jocketty said the team wanted to "fast track" Stephenson, whom he called "very impressive".

The Reds invited Stephenson to spring training as a non-roster invitee in 2014. The Reds assigned Stephenson to Pensacola. He appeared in the 2014 All-Star Futures Game. He had a 7–10 record and a 4.74 ERA while striking out 140 batters in ​136 ⁄₃ innings pitched with Pensacola. The Reds invited Stephenson to spring training in 2015. He began the season with Pensacola, where he pitched to a 3.68 ERA with 89 strikeouts in ​78 ⁄₃ innings, including a 2.36 ERA in his last ten starts, before he was promoted to the Louisville Bats of the Class AAA International League. After the season, the Reds added him to their 40-man roster.

After competing for a spot in the Reds' starting rotation for Opening Day during spring training in 2016, the Reds optioned him to Louisville to start the season. On April 4, with Homer Bailey beginning the season on the disabled list the Reds added Stephenson to their Opening Day roster. He made his MLB debut on April 7, and was optioned back to Louisville after the start. Stephenson was called up April 19, to make his second start in place of right-hander Alfredo Simon. In his second start, against the Colorado Rockies Stephenson became the first Reds pitcher to complete seven innings up to that point in the 2016 season, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out three and walking two. After the game, Stephenson was optioned back to Louisville. In 8 starts for the Reds, he finished 2-3 with a 6.08 ERA in 37 innings.

On July 22, 2017, Stephenson was recalled from Louisville. For the season, in 25 games, 11 starts, Stephenson finished 5-6 with a 4.68 ERA in ​84 ⁄₃ innings. He struck out 86 but walked 53 batters. The following season, he spent the majority of the season in AAA, only making 4 appearances for Cincinnati towards the end of the season.

The 2019 season was Stephenson's most successful to date, but it was as a relief pitcher and not a starting pitcher. He appeared in 57 games, all out of the bullpen, and enjoyed career bests in ERA (3.76), WHIP (1.036), K/9 (11.3), BB/9 (3.3), and H/9 (6.0). Stephenson attributed his recent success to letting go of expectations and focusing on the present.