Stephens hung around in the organization enough to get a brief shot in the majors for a second year in a row
It continues to be a wild ride for Jackson Stephens — from going nearly four years between major league appearances, to nearly a full season in a bullpen on a good team, and then kicking around the Braves’ organization with various roster statuses… but he was still around in 2024 and even got some time in the majors for his trouble.
How acquired
The Braves and Stephens first got acquainted back in January 2022, when he signed a minor league deal after spending part of 2021 in the Mexican League. Since then, his roster status has basically been one of those mini-roller coasters they have at pop-up Fourth of July carnivals or whatever: DFAed, re-signed, outrighted, IL stints, free agency, re-signed, outrighted, free agency… you get the idea. As far as the start of 2024 season is concerned, Jackson was signed to a one-year split deal in November 2023.
What were the expectations?
Stephens had a cromulent relief season in 2022: 53 1⁄3 innings, 90 ERA-, 91 FIP-, 102 xFIP-, all of which befit a mop-up reliever. The Braves, always eager to try and stuff the bullpen with higher-leverage options, crowded him out by 2023; amid injuries, he had an unremarkable 24 2⁄3 innings for Triple-A Gwinnett. Consequently, the only real expectations for Stephens were that he’d hang around as a mop-up option if the Braves needed a fresh arm here and there, and that he wouldn’t be particularly horrible if actually called up.
2024 Results
Stephens didn’t make the club out of Spring Training, but was called up in early May and made three relief appearances (including a span where he went nine days between appearances). He was then outrighted, refused the assignment and elected free agency, but re-signed right away and spent the rest of the year in Gwinnett, again battling injuries here and there.
All three of his relief appearances came in blowouts — two losses and one win. He got ten total outs, and had a very silly 65/191/170 line given that, amid 17 batters faced, he had two strikeouts, one walk, one hit batter, and one homer allowed. He also had 46 2⁄3 innings for the Stripers, and once again had an xFIP in the low 4.00s.
What went right?
Well, Stephens was around and healthy enough to get a cup of coffee in the majors for a second straight year. He’s also shown that he can be non-horrible at Triple-A, which will probably keep him around in that same role for as long as that stays the case.
Beyond that, there’s not much to talk about. He had a funny outing right before getting punted from the roster, where he escaped a bases-loaded jam of his own making by getting a strikeout and then benefiting from a flyout. His curveball continues to be a real weapon, but he doesn’t really have much of value to pair it with, which is why he’s a journeyman Triple-A guy at this point.
What went wrong?
Well, Stephens didn’t exactly pitch well when he did get a chance, though it’s doubtful that anything he was going to do in three mop-up appearances was going to convince the team to keep him employed at the big league level. The fact that he’s never had an xFIP below 4.00 in Triple-A (aside from 2022, where he made one good start at Gwinnett for his only minor league exposure of the season) just isn’t great.
But, hey, because he pitched in three blowouts, he didn’t even really have negative WPA in the outing where he gave up a homer to Max Muncy, which was Muncy’s third of the game and second in as many innings.
2025 Outlook
Stephens elected minor league free agency (again). Will the Braves re-sign him (again) and give him a brief stint in the majors (again)? Stay tuned and find out. Maybe Stephens will figure out a quality offering to pair with his very useful curveball at some point, but until then, he’s ye olde replacement level mop-up reliever guy, long may he reign.