Houston Astros: Signing Dallas Keuchel with Jim Stevenson (Interview)

An Interview with Houston Astros Scout Jim Stevenson

Sep 14, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) watches his team take on the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Every once in a while, I like to give people who work behind the scenes within the Houston Astros organization some recognition. The GM Jeff Luhnow and team president Reid Ryan are the most visible people in the organization, but some of the main work that the Astros use come from baseball scouts who are spread out throughout the country and world in some cases. These scouts go to countless games throughout their territory and discover the talent out there to create the Astros’ farm system that had seven of their minor league teams reach the playoffs in 2015.

One such scout that I interviewed discovered some guy named Carlos Correa, his name was Joey Sola and here is his interview: Houston Astros: Scouting Carlos Correa with Joey Sola (Interview). This interview was around the time that Correa made his debut with the Astros. For this edition, we will interview the Canadian-born Jim Stevenson, who signed Dallas Keuchel, is the Astros scout whose territory includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri (boo Cardinals’ country). Stevenson was once a left-handed pitcher in a California Junior College and the University of Mississippi, but an injury put his pitching days on permanent hold.

Stevenson has scouted for the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, and Houston Astros and is responsible for signing at least 100 players including Keuchel, Adrian Houser, and Yovani Gallardo to name a few. He once had a hand in drafting Jake Arrieta while with he Brewers, but Arrieta elected to go to college instead of signing with the Brewers.

I asked Stevenson a few things about his scouting career and got a little information on the Bearded one they call Cy- Keuchel.

Next: Click to read the Stevenson interview