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Josh Stephan is a fantasy baseball SP prospect sleeper and minor leaguer to know. Read our MLB prospects outlooks for fantasy baseball rookies and call-ups.
PROSPECT: Josh Stephan, SP, Texas Rangers
ANALYSIS: The Rangers signed Josh Stephan as an undrafted free agent after the shortened 2020 draft. Unheralded coming out of high school in Texas, Stephan wasn't even ranked in any pre-draft rankings put out that season. Rather than going to college and potentially getting a much larger bonus, Stephan took a $20,000 bonus to start his pro career.
In his pro debut, Stephan worked up to Single-A, and then he pitched across both A-ball levels in 2022, posting a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 115/31 K/BB over 103 1/3 innings. He features a low to mid-90s pair of fastballs that are very distinct from one another. He also has a pair of above-average secondary offerings, but the ease of his delivery and his low arm angle allow his stuff to play up.
Starting out 2023 repeating Hickory, Stephan has seen his control tick up another level, allowing him to post a 2.17 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 41/8 K/BB ratio over 37 1/3 innings while being more than two years younger than the average South Atlantic League player.
VERDICT: Stephan will likely get a bump up to Double-A soon once he returns from a current IL trip, and how his arm angle and stuff play against upper minors hitters will be a huge step into where he's going long-term. No need to rush out right now in any dynasty league, but watch for his initial results in Double-A, and if he continues dominating, snatch him up.
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