Jackson Tanner Stephens (born May 11, 1994) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

who plays for the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

. was drafted by the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

in the 18th round of the

2012 Major League Baseball Draft The 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 4 through June 6, 2012, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Houston Astros, with the first overall pick, selected Carlos Correa from the Puerto R ...

. He has previously played in MLB for the Reds and

Career

Cincinnati Reds

Stephens attended Oxford High School in

Oxford, Alabama Oxford is a city in Calhoun, Talladega, and Cleburne counties in the State of Alabama. The population was 22,069 at the 2020 census,. Oxford is one of two principal cities of and included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area ...

and was drafted by the

in the 18th round of the

. He signed with the Reds, forgoing his commitment to play

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...

at the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and la ...

, and made his professional debut that same season with the

Arizona League Reds The Arizona Complex League Reds are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, competing in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. The team is composed ...

, going 1-1 with a 4.64 ERA in twenty relief appearances. In 2013, he played for the

Dayton Dragons The Dayton Dragons are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Dayton, Ohio, and play their home games at Day Air Ballpark, formerly known as Fifth Third Field. In 2 ...

where he pitched to a 3-7 record and 4.59 ERA in 14 games (six starts) and in 2014, he returned to Daytona, going 2-7 with a 4.81 ERA in 14 games started. Stephens spent 2015 with the

Daytona Tortugas The Daytona Tortugas are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and play their home games at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 191 ...

where he compiled a 12-7 record and a career best 2.97 ERA in 26 starts, and he spent 2016 with the

Pensacola Blue Wahoos The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are based in Pensacola, Florida, and play their home games at Admiral Fetterman Field. In 2012, the team rel ...

where he went 8-11 with a 3.33 ERA in 27 games (26 starts). The Reds added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season. He began 2017 with the

Louisville Bats The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the bat, win ...

. Stephens was initially called up by the Reds at the end of May 2017 as an emergency relief pitcher but did not make an appearance. The Reds then recalled Stephens once again on July 1 to make his major league debut against the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

. Stephens pitched 5.0 innings in his debut, striking out 8. He also had a two RBI single in the 4th to tie the game for the Reds. He was optioned back to Louisville the day after, and was recalled once again in September. In 26 games for Louisville he was 7-10 with a 4.92 ERA, and in seven games for the Reds he compiled a 2-1 record and 4.68 ERA. Stephens began 2018 in Cincinnati's bullpen. In 29 games, he pitched in innings, holding an ERA of 4.93 with 33 strikeouts. Stephens was outrighted off the Reds roster following the 2019 season. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos

On June 4, 2021, Stephens signed with the

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (''Owls of the Two Laredos''), formerly known as the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo (''Owls of Nuevo Laredo''), are a Minor League Baseball team based in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Laredo, Texas in the Mexican Leagu ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

Atlanta Braves

On January 12, 2022, Stephens signed a minor league contract with the

organization. On April 12, Stephens' contract was selected by the Braves. He pitched the final three innings of a 16–4 victory against the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

that night in his first career save. While facing the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

on August 26, a line drive hit by

Brendan Donovan Brendan Michael Donovan (born January 16, 1997) is a German–born American professional baseball utility player for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born in Würzburg, Germany, and raised in Enterprise, Alabama, Donovan ...

struck Stephens in the head. He was placed on the seven-day injured list with a concussion. Stephens returned to the team on September 4. He finished the regular season with a 3.69 ERA Across 39 appearances, including one start and two saves. Stephens made the Braves’ postseason roster for the national league division series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He appeared in one game in which he pitched two scoreless innings. On November 18, 2022, Stephens was non tendered and became a free agent. On December 26, 2022, the Braves resigned Stephens to a 1-year, $740,000 contract.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Jackson 1994 births Living people People from Oxford, Alabama Baseball players from Alabama Major League Baseball pitchers Cincinnati Reds players Atlanta Braves players Arizona League Reds players Dayton Dragons players Daytona Tortugas players Pensacola Blue Wahoos players Louisville Bats players Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos players Cardenales de Lara players American expatriate baseball players in Mexico American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela