Tri-City ValleyCats starting pitcher Stephen Still works against the Quebec Capitales during Game 1 of the Frontier League Atlantic Conference finals on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on the Hudson Valley Community College campus in Troy, NY.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Tri-City ValleyCats starting pitcher Stephen Still works against the Quebec Capitales during Game 1 of the Frontier League Atlantic Conference finals on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on the Hudson Valley Community College campus in Troy, NY.
Jim Franco/Times Union
With no game on Monday, Tri-City ValleyCats pitcher Stephen Still did some sightseeing in New York City.
The Baton Rouge, La. native thinks he was somewhere near Central Park when he got a call from ValleyCats manager Greg Tagert, who told him to expect a call from the Baltimore Orioles.
Article continues below this ad
Immediately, Still’s attention turned from the Big Apple attractions to his smartphone.
“That was like the longest three hours of my life,” Still said Tuesday. “Just staring at my phone, every text message, just being like, ‘Dang it,’ and just waiting.”
Finally, Orioles scout Eric Robinson got in touch and gave Still the news just about every independent-league ballplayer longs to hear. Still is getting his shot at affiliated ball.
Make the Times Union a Preferred Source on Google to see more of our journalism when you search.
Add Preferred Source
The ValleyCats of the Frontier League transferred Still’s contract to the Orioles for the standard fee of $12,500. He planned to drive to Baltimore on Wednesday. Pending his physical, Still would sign a contract and be assigned to the Delmarva Shorebirds, the Orioles’ Single-A club in Salisbury, Md. They play in the Carolina League.
Article continues below this ad
He also spoke with Kent Qualls, Baltimore’s director of minor league operations.
Still said he called his parents on Tuesday morning to tell them, before going to Bruno Stadium to celebrate with his teammates.
“Seeing them being excited for me, that made me happy,” Still said. “It’s just exciting. I don’t know. It’s just hard to describe.”
Tagert said he’d been in close contact with a couple of big-league teams about Still. They didn’t have to see him in person. As an official partner league of Major League Baseball, the Frontier League shares the analytical data that is collected during games.
Article continues below this ad
“In this case, they got the right guy,” Tagert said. “They don’t always get the right guy because sometimes the data doesn’t tell you what Stephen can do in a game where he’s competing. So I think it will bode well for Stephen down the road and hopefully it works out for a long career.”
Still, a 6-foot-3 lefthander, was in his second season with the ValleyCats. He went 13-3 with a 3.89 earned-run average last season. This season, he had a league-high 18 strikeouts in 11 innings through two starts.
In his most recent start, Still gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings in a 15-7 loss at Sussex County last Thursday. Coming off that start, he wasn’t necessarily expecting a call from a big-league team.
However, he had a good feeling about the direction of his career. He had a tryout with the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this year through Tagert’s connections.
Article continues below this ad
“I threw really well out there and felt like I was in a really good spot with the numbers on all my pitches,” he said. “It feels like just a matter of time, a waiting game, and keep doing my thing.”
Still throws his fastball consistently at 91 to 92 miles per hour and mixes it with a curveball, sweeper and changeup. He said he’d love to remain a starter but will fill whatever role the Orioles ask.
He comes from a small-school pedigree. He pitched at Loyola University New Orleans, an NAIA program. He made his pro debut with Grand Junction (Colo.) of the Pioneer League in 2024 before signing with Tri-City last year.
Still praised ValleyCats fans for being “amazing and super-welcoming” and making Bruno Stadium feel like home. He described his teammates as “my brothers” who will be lifelong friends.
Article continues below this ad
“Just the opportunity to be myself, that’s the thing about Tagert, he wants a good clubhouse and lets guys be undeniably and uniquely themselves,” Still said. “When you feel comfortable being who you are, you can go out there and perform.”
Since Tri-City joined the Frontier League in 2021, 18 ValleyCats have joined MLB organizations.
The drawback for the ValleyCats (3-8) is having to fill Still’s spot in the rotation. Tri-City snapped a six-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 14-11 victory over the Trois-Rivieres Aigles in an Education Day game before a crowd of 3,529, mostly schoolchildren, at Bruno Stadium. Noah Estrella started in Still’s place.
Niskayuna High School graduate Aaron Whitley hit his first professional home run, a three-run blast, in the third inning and walked to force in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.
Article continues below this ad
Whitley’s mother and girlfriend were in the crowd.
“It’s just nice family could see it and everything,” he said. “It feels good to get the first (homer).”