Skip to main content

Bonds are key to Lakewood OF Stephen's success, future

Josh Stephen, image- Jay Floyd
LAKEWOOD, NJ-- Off to a hot start in the early going for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, outfielder Josh Stephen has used relationships, new and old, to build a level of comfort in the Phillies’ organization that he hopes will help him achieve his dream of playing in the big leagues.

Hailing from southern California, a hotbed for young baseball talent, Stephen was selected by the Phillies in the 11th round of the 2016 draft and joined an organization that included some familiar faces. Even before signing his first professional contract with the Phillies, the six feet tall 185-pound lefty batter had guys that he already considered teammates in the system.

Third base prospect Luke Williams, pitchers Kevin Gowdy and Bailey Falter along with first overall draft pick, outfielder Mickey Moniak are all individuals that Stephen competed with and against in his days playing youth baseball.

“It makes the transition of being drafted as an 18-year-old nice that there's people in the dugout, on the field, in the locker room that I've grown up with, I've known. It's kind of special,” Stephen shared.

After Stephen was drafted, he heard from pals Williams (3rd round, 2015) and Falter (5th round, 2015), who made sure their pal, who was committed to playing collegiate ball at USC, didn’t miss out on the opportunity to take the same path they had chosen out of high school. The pair boasted about the organization being a great place for young players with no college experience to learn and develop. They also told Stephen to play his ass off once he came aboard.

Stephen and Falter, a 6-4 lefty, hailed from the same city, so from the time they were 10 years old they were playing with one another and against one another. Gowdy (2nd round, 2016) would face Stephen in tournaments and showcases.

In a seemingly sly manner, when asked how he fared against those two hurlers in his teens, Stephen talked instead about how much fun it was to compete against them. Perhaps that is telling of those results.

Childhood teammates and opposition aren’t the only connections that Stephen has found beneficial to date in his pro career. Working closely with a pair of veterans that have competed at the highest level of the game has been key, according to the 20-year-old.

Prior to his death last year, two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay worked with the Phillies as a mental skills coach and would often form bonds with minor leaguers who were on the same path that he took after being drafted by the Blue Jays in 1995.

“I was in extended (spring training) last year and I got to work with him quite a bit,” Stephen said. “That was very cool to work with someone that has gone through it. He was drafted as a high schooler. He went through an organization just like me or just like any other kid. So, I mean it was a really cool experience to be able to talk to someone who has been in our shoes and knows what we're going through and be able to help us through our journey.”

He also formed a great bond with Class A short-season Williamsport manager Pat Borders, who was the World Series Most Valuable Player in 1992 and helped the Blue Jays down the Phillies in the 1993 Fall Classic.

Stephen says he got close to Borders and picked up a lot from the man who played 17 seasons in the majors.

“I had a phenomenal time, a great learning experience playing for him,” Stephen stated. “I definitely learned a lot about myself, learned a lot about the game, how to go about stuff as far as like a mental standpoint, how to be a professional and I am very grateful that I got to play for him.“

Another key aspect of familiarity for Stephen is related to the opposition. Having faced many of the same pitchers and organizations at lower short-season levels over the past two summers, the adjustment to the full-season South Atlantic League has been somewhat easy.

“I know how they're going to pitch me. I know how they're going to pitch as a whole, as a team.” Stephen offered.

That comfort level and mindset is prevalent for Stephen, who has posted solid numbers to date. Through 10 games with the BlueClaws, Stephen sports a .321 batting average and has matched his previous career high in homers with two.

Being around big leaguers like new Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta, another Cy Young Award winner, during spring training this year also made a lasting impression with Stephen.

"Two years ago he's pitching in the World Series and you're like, ‘That just seems so far away, so unrealistic!'", Stephen expressed. “I watched this guy on TV in the World Series and two years later, I'm in the box facing him. And he's in the dugout with us, talking to us like we're (equals)."

With his sights set on a dream of reaching the top level of the sport, Stephen aims to use his inspirations and lessons from the bonds he’s formed in his time playing baseball to take steps toward making that happen along with his teammates.

“We go about our business every day and we're just one day closer and one day closer. That's what keeps me motivated.  Doing it together.”

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi