John Stilson

Career

Stilson was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 19th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft out of Texarkana College, but did not sign and transferred to Texas A&M University. As a freshman in 2010, he led the nation in earned run average (ERA) with a 0.80 as a relief pitcher. Moved to the starting rotation in 2011, Stilson pitched to a 5–2 win–loss record with a 1.68 earned run average with 92 strikeouts before suffering a torn labrum, which caused him to miss the rest of the season. Despite the injury, he was still drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.

Stilson made his professional debut with the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays in 2012. After going 3–0 with a 2.82 ERA and 47 strikeouts, he was promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. After starting nine games, he was moved to the bullpen and pitched in another eight games. He finished his first professional season 5–4 with a 3.88 ERA and 91 strikeouts in  104 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched. Stilson started the 2013 season in the bullpen for the Fisher Cats and was promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in May. Stilson was ranked as the number 6 prospect in the Blue Jays organization on July 26, 2013, when the revised Top 100 Prospects list was released. He finished the 2013 campaign with a 6–2 record, 2.17 ERA, and 53 strikeouts in 49 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.

Stilson attended the Blue Jays' 2014 Major League spring training camp, and was reassigned to their minor league camp on March 19, 2014. He began the 2014 season in Buffalo, posting a 2–0 record with a 3.18 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 34 innings before his year ended due to a torn labrum in his right arm. He had surgery in August, and missed most of the 2015 season while recovering. Stilson made one relief appearance with Dunedin in 2015, posting a 13.50 ERA. He was assigned to New Hampshire to open the 2016 season.