Locals In MLB: Former Cougar Justin Sterner Pitching Lights Out For A’s
Apr 17, 2025, 12:23 PM
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: Justin Sterner #60 of the Athletics pitches against the New York Mets in the top of the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park on April 12, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former BYU Cougar right-hander Justin Sterner is following up a lights-out spring by looking nearly untouchable in the Athletics bullpen.
The California native made three-time batting champion Luis Arraez look silly while striking out on April 9.
Luis Arraez was the only qualified hitter this season to not strike out.
*Entered today with 0 strikeouts in 53 plate appearances.
His first strikeout came in his 58th PA of the year and on a NASTY pitch by Justin Sterner 👀 pic.twitter.com/ufCn8rzTvl
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2025
Sterner has scattered four hits and walked five batters in 9.1 innings. He struck out four Colorado Rockies batters across two appearances in Denver.
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Porter Hodge | RHP | Cottonwood Colts
MLB – Chicago Cubs
2025 Stats: 9 Games | 1-0 | 2.00 ERA | 9 IP | 5 HLD | 12 Ks | 3 BBs | 1.22 WHIP
2024 MLB Stats: 39 Games | 3-1 | 1.88 ERA | 43 IP | 9 SV | 9 HLD | 52 Ks | 19 BBs | 0.89 WHIP
Hodge picked up right where he left off in September, locking down a late-inning role in manager Craig Counsell’s bullpen. The second-year pitcher earned his first win of the year, striking out three Texas Rangers’ batters in 1.1 innings of work.
Hodge has allowed a run in two of his nine appearances this season. He has not walked a batter in his last three outings.
RELATED: Former Cottonwood Pitcher Set To Open Season As Key Cog In Cubs Bullpen
Porter Hodge looked like his 2024 self yesterday against the Diamondbacks:
1.0 IP
2 K
0 R
44% Whiff%
50% CSW%
87.5 Avg EVHe shut down the Dbacks after allowing the first two guys to reach. pic.twitter.com/jfrhyCLsPy
— The Wrigley Wire (@TheWrigleyWire) March 30, 2025
Hodge opened 2024 with Double-A Tennessee, allowing one hit in four innings across two appearances before a promotion to Triple-A Iowa. He made ten appearances with Iowa before getting the call to Chicago in mid-May.
Since arriving in the Windy City, Hodge has endeared himself to Cubs fans, teammates, and manager Craig Counsell. After being used primarily in low-leverage moments early with the Cubs, Hodge has earned the trust of Counsell late in games.
The right-handed Hodge was a two-time state champ at Cottonwood High. A four-year varsity starter, Hodge finished with a 1.50 ERA in 130.2 innings across 30 games.
The Chicago Cubs selected Hodge out of high school in the 13th round of the 2019 MLB draft. He advanced to Double-A Tennessee in 2023, finishing with a 6-7 record and a 5.13 ERA in 80.2 innings.
Daniel Schneemann | Utility | BYU Cougars
MLB – Cleveland Guardians
2025 Stats: 9 games | .091 BA | 2 Hits | 1 2B | HR | 2 RBI | 3 BBs | 10 Ks
2024 MLB Stats: 73 games | .218 | 42 Hits | 10 2B | 2 3B | 5 HR | 22 RBI | 3 SB | 25 BBs | 70 Ks
Schneemann has struggled offensively this season, but that hasn’t limited his defensive versatility. He has played six games at second base, two games at third, and four appearances in centerfield without committing an error.
The speedster made the rounds on highlight reels last week after scoring on a ‘little league’ home run.
RELATED: Schneemann Hits Thrilling “Little League Homerun” For Guardians
Lol, alright, so we're on the board.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/mfrVRHxr4h
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 13, 2025
The former Cougar brought incredible versatility as a rookie, appearing in double-digit games at third base (17), shortstop (32), center field (16), and right field (14). Schneemann added six appearances at second and left for playoff-bound Cleveland. Despite an underwhelming performance at the plate, first-year manager Stephen Vogt was confident putting Schneemann in the lineup at nearly any position.
The Cleveland Guardians drafted the left-handed-hitting Schneemann in the 33rd round of the 2018 MLB draft after three seasons at BYU. The San Diego native hit .288 with 76 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and 21 doubles as a Cougar. His best year came in 2017 when he hit .317 with 13 doubles, two home runs, 38 runs knocked in, and ten stolen bases.
Justin Sterner | Pitcher | BYU Cougars
MLB – Athletics
2025 Stats: 9 Games | 0-0 | 0.00 ERA | 9.1 IP | 14 Ks | 5 BBs | 0.96 WHIP
2024 MLB Stats: 2 Games | 0-0 | 2.25 ERA | 4 IP | 4 Ks | BB | 1.50 WHIP
Sterner made his MLB debut in 2024, throwing four innings in two appearances with the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa Bay placed Sterner on waivers in early November, where the Sacramento-bound Athletics claimed him.
He figures to play a prominent role this season with the A’s.
Through three years in Provo, the 6’1 righthander went 8-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 27 games (17 starts). He went 8-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 2019, striking out 71 batters in 71 innings.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. | OF | Utah Utes
MLB – Minnesota Twins
2025 Stats: .143 BA | 2 Hits | 2 SB | 5 Ks |
2024 Stats: .154 BA | 2 Hits | HR | RBI | K
Spring Training 2025: .286 | 12 Hits | HR | 8 RBI | 3 SB
Keirsey Jr. has been a bench piece for Minnesota, starting four times for the 7-12 Twins. He has hits in back-to-back games after going hitless in his first seven at-bats.
The left-handed former Utat outfielder made his MLB debut in September, playing six games with Minnesota. Keirsey Jr. got off to an inauspicious start, going 1-for-10 in his first four games. Two weeks later, the native of San Diego, CA, launched his first big league home run in his final game of the season.
Keirsey Jr. played 154 games with Utah from 2016 to 2018. After hitting .293 with 30 RBI and 11 stolen bases as a freshman, Keirsey exploded for 33 doubles, seven homers, and 53 RBI over the next two seasons. He hit .327 as a sophomore, then slashed .386/.440/.609 in 50 games as a junior.
MLB scouts took notice with Minnesota selecting Keirsey Jr. in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2018 MLB player draft.
Tanner Banks | Pitcher | SLCC Bruins & Utah Utes
MLB – Philadelphia Phillies
2025 Stats: 7 Games | 0-0 | 7 IP | 3.38 ERA | 7 Ks | 3 BBs | 1.38 WHIP
2024 Stats: 63 Games | 2-3 | 2 SV | 8 HLD | 72.1 IP | 3.98 ERA | 78 Ks | 25 BBs | 1.30 WHIP
Banks opened the season with five scoreless innings in his first six low-leverage appearances. He went two innings for the first time in his last outing, striking out four, but gave up a triple and surrendered a two-run homer to Mike Yastrzemski of the San Francisco Giants.
Now pitching for the Phillies: Tanner Banks pic.twitter.com/OT3U0hgOvp
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) March 29, 2025
Banks was the beneficiary of a trade deadline deal that sent the southpaw reliever from the worst in baseball, the Chicago White Sox, to the playoff-bound Phillies.
The lefty reliever threw 24.1 innings in 22 appearances with Philadelphia, finishing with a 3.70 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He made one postseason appearance, giving up a run on two hits and striking out two.
Banks played two seasons (2011-12) at Salt Lake Community College after graduating from Riverton High. He finished his collegiate career on the hill with the Utes.
Banks was 4-12 in 29 appearances for the Utes, including 19 starts. He struck out 70 against 31 walks in 113 innings, ending his amateur career with a 5.18 ERA. The Chicago White Sox selected Banks in the 18th round of the 2014 draft. Banks made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2022.
Oliver Dunn | 2B | Utah Utes
MLB – Milwaukee Brewers
2025 Stats: .167 BA | 6 Hits | 2 2B | 6 RBI | SB | 11 Ks | 2 BB
2024 Stats: .221 BA | 21 Hits | HR | 2 2B | 2 3B | 7 RBI | 3 SB | 40 Ks | 6 BB
A poor start to the season led the Brewers to option Dunn back to Triple-A Nashville, where he can get consistent at-bats and experience some success. Dunn is hitting .167 with two doubles and six RBI. He has 11 punchouts compared to two walks.
This morning's roster update: pic.twitter.com/YDSqvYEW7p
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 17, 2025
A June back injury cost Dunn the remainder of 2024, but may have been a blessing in disguise after the former Ute struggled in his first go-around facing big league pitching.
A spring training roster battle with Vinny Capra brought out the best in Dunn. He slashed .340/.400/.960 with two homers, 12 runs scored, and five stolen bases.
The 5’10 lefthanded hitter played 155 games for the University of Utah (2017-19), hitting .312 with seven home runs and 78 RBI. As a junior, Dunn hit .366 and reached base in nearly half of his plate appearances. The New York Yankees selected Dunn in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB draft. Dunn spent 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
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