Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Sterling is going to get the chance to prove that adversity can be a good thing. An athletic and projectable two-way player at the same Notre Dame High School in California that produced big leaguers Giancarlo Stanton and Hunter Greene, Sterling was taken No. 37 overall in the 2024 Draft and signed for a full-slot bonus of $2.51 million. He spent nearly all of the 2025 season in the Florida Complex League, and while he showed some raw stuff, he struggled to put it together with any consistency, finishing with a 6.09 ERA and 1.77 WHIP over 34 innings, though he did cap things off with 2 1/3 scoreless frames with Single-A Bradenton.

Despite the struggles, the Pirates are no less bullish on the 6-foot-5 Sterling’s upside and potential four-pitch mix. His fastball typically sat in the low 90s and topped out at 95 mph last year, and it can have good ride and run to it. There’s feel to spin both an 80-mph curve that flashes plus and a mid-80s slider. He has pretty good feel for his changeup, and that eventually could be an above-average pitch for him.

Sterling was young for his Draft class and will pitch at age 19 for the 2026 season, and while he really struggled to command the baseball during his debut, his athleticism on the bump, when combined with his overall feel to pitch, all point to him getting to decent overall control and command in the future. He looked good in the bridge league after the season and was filling up the zone in the Pirates’ early pitching camp, leaving the organization excited to see how he hits the reset switch in 2026.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Back in 2017, Notre Dame High school in California had a two-way star who was a legitimate prospect as a pitcher and an infielder. Most liked him better on the mound and that’s exactly what Hunter Greene has gone on to do full-time in the big leagues after going No. 2 overall that year. Sterling approached his Draft season in 2024 without as much buzz as Greene, but did have a résumé of standing out as a pitcher and shortstop against top levels of competition. But like Greene, teams coveted him as a potential future starter, and that’s why the Pirates took him in Competitive Balance Round A and signed him for just north of $2.5 million.

While Sterling didn’t pitch after signing, he’s already made a strong impression on the pitching development staff with the Pirates, who have seen some outstanding high school arms come through lately. Sterling doesn’t have the high-octane stuff like Bubba Chandler or Jared Jones had right out of the gate, but they didn’t have Sterling's pitchability, and he has the chance to throw four pitches for strikes. His fastball sits in the low 90s with ride and run, and he has a really good feel to spin two breaking balls, a plus 80 mph curve and a mid-80s sweeper. His changeup is also trending in the right direction and could be a fourth at least above-average offering. 

The athleticism that made him a solid shortstop really plays on the mound, with Sterling’s ability to repeat his delivery pointing to good command and control. He’s going to add strength to his 6-foot-5 frame, so there should be more velocity to come along with his feel for pitching. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Hailing from a Notre Dame High School program in California that has produced Hunter Greene and Giancarlo Stanton among other former big leaguers, Sterling was a solid two-way player in high school, one who both pitched and hit against good competition on the summer showcase circuit as well as for Team USA. Though his stuff fluctuated a bit throughout his senior season, most scouts preferred him on the mound rather than as an infielder, and the Pirates drafted him as a right-handed pitcher, taking him with their Competitive Balance Round A pick and signing him for full slot value ($2.51 million).

Sterling’s upside on the bump is what the Pirates invested in. He has a loose, clean arm action coming from a three-quarters slot and a lean, athletic body that points to a lot of projection. He’s already throwing his fastball in the 92-mph range, touching 94 with ride and run, and he can really spin the baseball with a plus 80-mph curve he can throw for strikes and an effective mid-80s sweeper. His changeup is an emerging pitch and could eventually give him a fourth above-average-or-better offering. There were times this spring when his stuff trended in the wrong direction, though some scouts felt that might have been a matter of fatigue from playing shortstop regularly when he wasn’t pitching.

Sterling’s athleticism helps him repeat his delivery. He should be a solid strike-thrower in the future, and there should be more in the tank velocity-wise to come as he matures. He’ll pitch at age 18 for his first full season in 2025.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Hailing from a Notre Dame High School program in California that has produced Hunter Greene and Giancarlo Stanton among other former big leaguers, Sterling is a solid two-way player in high school, one who has both pitched and hit against good competition on the summer showcase circuit as well as for Team USA. Most scouts like him more on the mound than in the batter’s box, and there was a split camp this spring as his stuff fluctuated throughout his senior season.

While Sterling will play shortstop and likely pitch once a week during the high school season, it’s his upside on the bump that has the industry excited. He has a loose, clean arm action coming from a three-quarters slot and a lean, athletic body that points to a lot of projection. He’s already throwing his fastball in the 92-mph range, touching 94 with ride and run, and he can really spin the baseball with a plus 80-mph curve he can throw for strikes and an effective mid-80s sweeper. His changeup is an emerging pitch and could eventually give him a fourth above-average-or-better offering. There were times this spring when his stuff trended in the wrong direction, though some scouts felt that might have been a matter of fatigue from playing shortstop regularly when he wasn’t pitching.

Sterling’s athleticism helps him repeat his delivery. He should be a solid strike-thrower in the future, and there should be more in the tank velocity-wise to come as he matures. The Texas recruit will still only be 17 at Draft time, another factor working in his favor.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Levi Sterling assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects.
	09/24/2025	Bradenton Marauders activated RHP Levi Sterling.
	09/05/2025	Bradenton Marauders transferred RHP Levi Sterling to the Development List.
	09/04/2025	RHP Levi Sterling assigned to Bradenton Marauders from FCL Pirates.
	08/05/2024	RHP Levi Sterling assigned to FCL Pirates.
	07/25/2024	Pittsburgh Pirates signed RHP Levi Sterling.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated RHP Levi Sterling.
	06/09/2024	RHP Levi Sterling assigned to College Workout.
	01/30/2024	RHP Levi Sterling assigned to High School Workout.
	09/13/2023	RHP Levi Sterling assigned to High School Workout.
	08/16/2023	RHP Levi Sterling assigned to High School Workout.