RHP Casey Steward was selected by the Phillies in the 19th round of the 2023 draft from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. The now 23 year old threw 102.2 innings in 2024 between Low A Clearwater (50.2 IP) and High A Jersey Shore (52 IP) posting a cumulative 8-5 record in 22 games (20 starts) with a respectable 3.42 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. He struck out 101 batters and walked 50. It was a very good first full season for the 6’5” right hander.
Casey graduated from East High School in Wichita, Kansas where he lettered three years in baseball. As a freshman at Washburn he redshirted and was named to the MIAA (Mid Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association) Academic Honor Roll which is an honor he earned all four years as a student at Washburn - in his last two years there he earned MIAA Scholar Athlete honors majoring in Kinesiology. Casey is a twin, his brother Calvin was also on the Washburn baseball team.
Steward led the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) with 110 strikeouts in 2023 which tied the Washburn school record for a single season. In three collegiate seasons he appeared in 40 games (30 starts) and posted 170 innings pitched - 82.2 in his last year. Given the heavy 2023 workload in college the Phillies held him to five games and six innings pitched after being drafted.
I found an interesting quote he made in an article written by Braden Burcham posted in the 10/2/23 edition of the Washburn Review that epitomizes what I’ve seen of him every time I’ve watched him pitch as a professional. “Honestly, I just wanted to leave a mark at Washburn and be remembered as a guy who gave everything he had on and off the field,” Steward said. “I knew the results would come eventually, but I always wanted to be the hardest worker on the team. I was always a quiet guy who just wanted to get things done and do them the right way.”
He’s currently participating in Winter High Performance Camp at the Clearwater Complex. Phillies Minor League Pitching Director Travis Hergert told me that Casey is a “big, physical arm who really made an impression early in the 2024 season with his big fastball, solid change-up and sweeping slider. To reach the 100 IP mark in his first full season of professional baseball was an impressive and important achievement. His main focus this offseason is to continue to develop the short movement but harder velo slider and two seam sinker. We feel these pitches will complement the current arsenal and allow for more action in the zone. He’s a workhorse and has been a consistent contributor to the culture of our offseason HP camps.”
I recently had a chance to I ask Casey a few questions - here’s our interaction.
When you were drafted by the Phillies in 2023 did you have any indication that they would do so? Had they been scouting your games at Washburn University?
“I had been told there were scouts at a few of my games from time to time. But I didn’t really think anything would come of it being at a D2 in Kansas.”
I believe you are the 11th player to continue into pro baseball from Washburn including Davey Lopesback in the 1960’s. What was your experience like at Washburn and what stood out the most to prepare you to become a professional pitcher?
“I really enjoyed my time at Washburn and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to grow and develop there. I think one thing that stood out the most to help me prepare to become a professional pitcher was being able to learn from a pitching coach who had been drafted and spent time in pro ball.”
You studied kinesiology in school - how has that helped you as a professional pitcher and how has it fit in with the Phillies teaching/coaching philosophies?
“Being able to study kinesiology really helped me understand how the body moves. Why it moves the way it moves, how it recovers. All of that really helped me understand how my own body moves and what it likes and doesn’t like when it comes to recovery. That fits well with the Phillies because the organization cares about your health and being able to play. Being able to know what my body needs is super helpful.”
What pitches do you feature and which one is your go-to delivery?
“I throw a four seam,two seam, change up, gyro slider, and sweeper slider. I would say the four seam is my go to.”
In fifteen of your twenty starts last season you went five innings or more - as a starting pitcher what is your approach in regards to the longevity of the appearance?
“My mindset every time I go out for a start is to keep my team in the game and throw past the fifth inning. I don’t like getting pulled at all but especially before the fifth because I feel like I’m letting the team down and putting more pressure on the bullpen.”
I really like your approach on the mound - a no-nonsense get after it style. I remember a game in St Lucie when you were with the Threshers where you were ejected in the second inning after plunking a batter. The previous inning your catcher had been hit by a pitch. As a pitcher did you feel it is your duty to protect your teammate?
“I’ll always protect my teammates. It’s very important for my teammates behind me making plays for me to know I have their back no matter what.”
You were promoted to Jersey Shore at the end of June last season after being a major contributor to Clearwater’s first half championship - what was it like to experience earning a playoff berth and how were you told about your promotion?
“Being able to experience a playoff clinch is something special and it’s something I’ll always remember. The promotion was very abrupt and I didn’t see it coming. I got a call from my manager on Monday (our off day) and he told me I had been promoted and congratulated me.”
At Jersey Shore you continued to put up good numbers with about the same amount of innings as you threw with Clearwater - was there any noticeable difference in the hitters you faced at one level as compared to the other?
“I would say the hitters in Jersey had better approaches. They didn’t chase outside of the zone as much as the hitters in Clearwater did.”
Any significant life events in December that you might want to share?
“I had an amazing off season, I got married to the love of my life.”
Lastly are you a goal setter and if so what expectations have you set for yourself for the 2025 season?
“For 2025 I have some big goals. I’m really excited with the work I’ve put in this off season. I’ve worked a lot with one of my old teammates, Rane Pfeifer. But the main goal for this year is to just stay healthy and enjoy each and every moment of this opportunity because you never know how long this will last.”
I thank both Casey and Director Hergert for answering my inquiries - I’m a true believer that hard work when coupled with talent and a drive to succeed return positive results. Casey checks all of those boxes - don’t count him out from reaching his ultimate goal of pitching in the major leagues, I certainly don’t.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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