Toronto Blue Jays select Mississippi State RHP Khal Stephen in 2024 MLB Draft

The Toronto Blue Jays have selected Mississippi State right-handed pitcher Khal Stephen with the No. 59 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Stephen spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Purdue before transferring to Mississippi State ahead of the 2024 season.

In his lone campaign with the Bulldogs, Stephen made 16 starts, amassing 96.0 innings pitched. On the mound, Stephen held opposing hitters to a .213 batting average and tallied 107 strikeouts. He finished the season with an 8-3 record and a 3.28 ERA.

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For his efforts, Stephen was named a First-Team All-SEC selection and Third-Team NCBWA All-American. Stephen guided MSU to a win over St. John’s in the Bulldogs’ opening game of the Charlottesville Regional. However, he didn’t take the mound again and MSU ultimately didn’t advance to the super regionals.

In his two seasons with Purdue, Stephen made 37 appearances and 14 starts. In total, Stephen recorded 109.2 innings pitched for the Boilermakers. He limited opposing batters to a .261 average and notched 104 strikeouts. He ended his two-year tenure at Purdue with a 6.16 ERA.

For his standout sophomore campaign, Stephen was named a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection, becoming Purdue’s first sophomore to be an All-Big Ten pitcher since 2017. Additionally, he was named the Boilermakers’ Pitcher of the Year.

Khal Stephen played high school baseball at Seeger High School (IN), where he was the No. 435 overall prospect and No. 151 right-handed pitcher in the 2021 recruiting cycle, according to Perfect Game.

While Stephen wasn’t necessarily a jaw-dropping prospect coming out of high school, draft analysts seem to believe his game will translate well at the next level.

“Stephen’s fastball operates at 92-94 mph and touches 96, but it’s most notable for natural carry that allows it to miss more than its share of bats,” MLB.com wrote. “His best secondary pitch is a solid mid-80s changeup with significant fade. He also possesses a pair of average breaking balls with similar movement, favoring his mid-80s slider over his upper-70s curveball.

“Few college pitchers can match Stephen’s feel for four pitches. He has the ability to get in-zone swings and misses as well as chases on each of his offerings, and he commands his fastball particularly well. He lacks a true plus offering but has a high floor as a No. 4 or 5 starter.”