The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed pitcher Jake Stevenson to a minor league deal. The news was announced by Stevenson on Twitter.
Excited to be apart of @Pirates org! Big thanks to @ArowThrows and @TreadAthletics for the off-season work. Just getting started @npgsports ! Fired up for the season! Let’s go Bucs
Stevenson was a tenth round draft pick in 2019 out of the University of Minnesota. He had a 3.10 ERA and 31 strikeouts for Billings of the short-season Pioneer League during that 2019 season. He sat out the 2020 canceled season, then was limited to two innings during the 2021 season due to early and mid-season injuries.
Stevenson had some major control issues this past season in Low-A, which led to him being released in mid-August. He had a 10.13 ERA, a 2.44 WHIP and 36 walks in 26.1 innings. He finished the season in independent ball, where he gave up three earned runs over 9.2 innings, with three walks and 13 strikeouts. Stevenson will be 26 years old just before Opening Day.
According to scouting reports from this off-season, he has been throwing 95-97 MPH, with a cutter, slider and a changeup. His velocity has spiked after making some adjustments this winter. His Twitter timeline shows his fastball peaking at 93.2 one session (which was said to be an improvement), followed by 94.1 the next, then 95.5 after that in mid-December. The most recent jump saw him up to 97 within the last few weeks.
