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Pirates fans finally get first look at metrics from top 2024 draft prep arm

ByBaron Dionis|
The ABS operator sits in the press box at LECOM Park during a spring training game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, Mar. 7, 2025. Major League Baseball is testing an Automated Ball-Stike (ABS) challenge system at select spring training parks. The system allows players to challenge a limited number of ball/stike calls during a game. Calls can be overturned if the pitch tracking technology shows an umpire got a call wrong.
The ABS operator sits in the press box at LECOM Park during a spring training game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, Mar. 7, 2025. Major League Baseball is testing an Automated Ball-Stike (ABS) challenge system at select spring training parks. The system allows players to challenge a limited number of ball/stike calls during a game. Calls can be overturned if the pitch tracking technology shows an umpire got a call wrong. | Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Konnor Griffin was the big prep name for the Pirates during the last MLB Draft, but he didn't represent all the young talent they drafted high. Levi Sterling was taken with the Pirates' Competetive Balance pick, right after Griffin, and is already ranked inside the Pirates' top 10 prospects on MLB Pipeline.

He hasn't done a lot of public work thus far into his professional career, though, as he did not pitch in any games following the draft. This spring, Sterling was able to get some work in on the backfields of Pirate City, and his work was reported to the public. Sterling's metrics and measurables from camp represent some of the only information fans have gotten on the 18-year-old arm, and so far, the data is quite impressive.

Pirates 2024 draft pick Levi Sterling displayed some impressive metrics during a side session at spring training.

Sterling tossed two innings, and he displayed two key pitches. His fastball topped out at 95 mph and sat around 92-93, falling to 90-92 in the second inning of work. Additionally, the pitch has 17 inches of vertical break and 20 inches of horizontal movement. Getting that movement on the fastball is really crucial, especially since the velocity is not quite overpowering. He still could add velocity down the road, as he is still very young, so having this extra hop on his fastball is a great sign.

His slider was the other pitch that got some attention, as it sat around 80-83 with 2700 rpm spin. According to Pitchlogic, the typical spin on a major leaguer slider is 2400 rpm. Although we don't know what the movement was, seeing an above-average spin rate on his slider is really significant.

Sterling also showed a changeup sitting around 83-85 and a curveball down to 79-81. Those two did not have any metrics listed on them.

It is likely that Sterling will begin the season in rookie ball, but it will be very exciting to see what he can accomplish there in his first season of professional baseball. His pitches are very impressive at such a young age, adding on to the potential he brings to this organization.

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