Steven Thomas Adkins was born in Chicago on October 26, 1964. He enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in 1982, graduating in 1986. A pitcher, he played varsity baseball all four years. Adkins was elected Cane Man by his senior class.
Adkins was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 15th round of the 1986 amateur draft. He made his major league baseball debut for the Yankees on September 12, 1990. He pitched only five games that season and was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago Cubs on June 26, 1991, but did not play any further major league baseball.