July 20, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Former Lion Jeff Stevens (2003-05) made his Major League debut on July 10 for the Chicago Cubs, as the Cubs fell to the rival St. Louis Cardinals, 8-3. Stevens was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds organization in the sixth round of the 2005 draft.

The Moraga, Calif. native has now appeared in two games for the Cubs this season, tossing two scoreless and hitless frames out of the Chicago bullpen. Prior to being called-up, Stevens had posted a 2.18 ERA in 30 relief appearances for the Iowa Cubs. Over 41 and a third innings of work, he punched-out 43 batters and recorded two saves, holding opponents to a .171 batting average against. Stevens was also a member of the Team USA baseball team in 2007 and 2008, helping guide the U.S. to a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. The U.S. finished the Olympic Games with a 6-3 record while Stevens posted a 9.00 ERA and a 1-2 record in four appearances for the team.

While at LMU, Stevens recorded back-to-back All-Conference honors in 2004 and 2005. As a junior, the right-hander went 6-4 in WCC play with a 3.33 ERA, placing him amongst the WCC leaders in ERA. Stevens' 73 innings pitched in WCC games led all pitchers, and he ranked second in strikeouts (58) and victories (6). His 2004 sophomore season saw him go 5-0 with a 3.69 ERA after throwing a team-leading 95 innings. Over his three-year stint as a Lion, Stevens recorded a 14-10 record with a 4.43 ERA in 64 appearances, 30 of them starts. When he was not starting, Stevens was an effective option out of the bullpen, nailing-down six saves in his career, two shy of entering LMU's career top-10 list.

Stevens and the Cubs, who have won four straight games, enter today's contest versus the Philadelphia Phillies sitting two games back of St. Louis in the National League Central.