Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 8: Levi Sterling Already One of System’s Best

This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.

Levi Sterling was one of the youngest players available in last year’s draft, but his age didn’t preclude him from being one of the top available prospects.

Sterling turned 18 years old in September, about a month and a half after the Pirates selected him with the 37th pick in the draft. The right-handed pitcher hails from Notre Dame High School in California, the same school that produced Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene.

Though we have yet to see Sterling take the mound in the Pirates’ organization, it’s easy to see why Pittsburgh took him as early as they did.

For starters, Sterling already possesses a plus-curveball and a strong sweeper. He also features a sharp fastball and a changeup as part of his four-pitch mix.

Despite his youth and inexperience, Sterling already shows a pretty good feel for the zone and has the ability to land his pitches for strikes.

Additionally, Sterling is a good athlete. He was a two-way player during his prep career and played shortstop when he wasn’t on the mound. Though he will focus solely on pitching with the Pirates, his athleticism translates to his delivery and adds to his appeal.

Sterling joins a strong mix of pitching prospects in the Pirates’ organization. Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington all reside in the upper-levels of the system while Sterling is part of a group that includes Hunter Barco, Zander Mueth and Michael Kennedy in the lower levels.