Jeff Stevens

Jeffrey Stevens - Right-handed Pitcher
Age: 24 Height: 6'1" Weight: 220 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 Kinston/Akron	6	3	2.81	49	0	2	83.3	58	26	6	25	102	2.70	11.02	1.00
Career	19	14	3.58	92	29	2	253.7	209	101	20	79	263	2.80	9.33	1.14

History: Stevens has the distinction of being the infamous player to be named later the Indians received when they traded Brandon Phillips to the Cincinnati Reds on April 7, 2006. Stevens was drafted by Cincinnati in the 6th round of the 2005 Draft out of Loyola Marymount University, and was not formally sent to the Indians until June 13, 2006 since he was just drafted in June of 2005 and drafted players cannot be traded for a year.

Strengths & Opportunities: Stevens had a breakthrough season last year, and if not for Jensen Lewis and Aaron Laffey would have been the pitcher in the system to make the biggest stride by season's end. Prior to being acquired, Stevens went 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA for rookie level Billings in 2005 and had a 1.09 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched. He followed that up by going 2-4 with a 4.43 ERA at Single-A Dayton and had a 1.36 WHIP and 43 strikeouts in 42.1 innings pitched before being acquired by the Indians in June of 2006. He then pitched out of the starting rotation in Lake County the rest of 2006 and went 7-3 with a 4.42 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and piled up 60 strikeouts in 73 innings.

Last year, Stevens went through spring training expecting to be a starter, but when camp broke he was shipped to Kinston and put in the bullpen. The move to the bullpen saw him take off, and the Indians are excited about his progress and his future in the bullpen. Stevens saw an increase in velocity when he moved to the bullpen and his fastball is very reminiscent of Rafael Betancourt's where it is consistently 92-93 MPH and occasionally will hit 95 MPH, but it gets in on batters quickly. His phenomenal strikeout rate of 11.05 strikeouts per nine innings combined with a solid 2.70 walks per nine inning rate is what has people excited about him. When you are piling up strikeouts and getting over four strikeouts to every walk, that is special.

He has four quality pitches and commands them well. His fastball has some life to it, and is a four-seamer. He compliments his fastball with a good changeup and his breaking ball has improved a lot since first coming into the organization. His breaking ball has seen much improvement, and has been described as having the drop and movement of a "whiffle ball". He is a great competitor and goes right after guys, and he also throws strikes. He has the stuff and makeup to be a backend reliever.

The Indians sent Stevens to the Arizona Fall League (AFL) this offseason to continue his growth, but his time there was limited as he was selected to be part of the pitching staff for Team USA in the World Championships in Taiwan. In 12 combined appearances in the AFL and with Team USA, Stevens racked up 3 saves and did not allow a run in 12 innings pitched while allowing 5 hits, 1 walk and striking out 11. When the dust settled on his 2007 season, in 61 combined games between Kinston, Akron, the AFL and with Team USA, Stevens went 6-3 with 5 saves and a 2.45 ERA, and in 95.3 innings pitched allowed only 63 hits and walked 26 while striking out 113.

Outlook: Stevens is someone who is coming onto the scene and could move quickly to Cleveland sometime in 2008 if he continues to produce and pitch well. His performance in the AFL and for Team USA was the capper on what was a breakthrough season for him, and if he pitches well early in the season he could make a bid for a callup to Cleveland by mid-season like Jensen Lewis did last year if a need arises. He should start the season in the Buffalo bullpen.

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