Reds call up Stephenson for MLB debut

Robert Stephenson was hoping to make the Reds' Major League roster at some point during the 2016 season. On Monday in a last-minute move, the Reds asked him, "How does Opening Day work for you?"

The Reds called up their No. 2 prospect after right-handed starting pitcher Homer Bailey was moved to the 15-day disabled list as he recovers from 2015 Tommy John surgery. Stephenson is expected to make his Major League debut Thursday against the Phillies.

This season is the first that Stephenson, a first-round pick in 2011, is spending as a member of the 40-man roster, having been added before the Rule 5 Draft deadline last November. He struggled in four starts this spring, giving up 13 runs (11 earned) on 12 hits and seven walks while fanning 11 over 10 1/3 innings. He was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on March 18 but was officially recalled Monday.

Given the nature of the Reds' ongoing rebuild this season, Stephenson was hopeful that a call would come eventually in 2016, if not this early.

"Especially this past season, we saw so many rookies in the big leagues because it was pretty much a rebuilding year," he told MiLB.com in February. "Sometimes in big years, you don't see that happen as much. So my mind-set this spring is that I'm fighting for a spot. Obviously, the decision is out of my hands, but I want to do the best I can this spring and make the team. That's my goal."

The 23-year-old's stuff has always been on the higher end of the scale as MLB.com this offseason gave him a 70 grade for his fastball, a 60 for his changeup and a 55 for his curve on the 20-80 scouting scale. That stuff led to 140 strikeouts in 134 innings between Double-A Pensacola and Louisville last season. But a lack of control, as seen this spring, has hurt him as he issued 70 walks in that same span for a 4.7 BB/9 average. However, 2015 brought some positive signs as his Double-A ERA dropped from 4.74 to 3.68 while he held Southern League batters to a .197 average.

"I think Robert has done a nice job addressing things as he's gone up," director of player development Jeff Graupe told the MiLB.com podcast in January. "He's still really young. To be at such a high level in the Minor Leagues, pitching and showing that he has had success, I thought this was a nice bounceback season for him from what was a challenging 2014. He's really taken a step forward in learning who he is, in my opinion, and I do think there are some things he has keyed [in on]. I think we're going to see the best of Robert this spring."

Bailey underwent elbow surgery last May and is expected to return to the Major League rotation by May. Injuries to Anthony DeSclafani, John Lamb, Michael Lorenzen and Jon Moscot also helped Stephenson's chances for a call-up.