TAMPA, Fla. — Former BYU pitcher Justin Sterner was called up to Major League Baseball with the selection of his contract by the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
Sterner joins the Rays after three seasons in the minor leagues, most recently with Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls. The right-handed pitcher made his MLB debut on May 31, pitching two scoreless innings versus the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
Following a two-year, full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Samoa, Sterner starred for the Cougars from 2018 to 2020. Sterner’s BYU career included 27 appearances and 17 starts with an 8-3 record. The Laguna Niguel, California native recorded a career 2.86 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 100.2 innings pitched for the Cougars.
Sterner signed as a free agent with the Miami Marlins in August 2020 and went on to record three saves and a 1.38 ERA in his first seven minor league appearances with the Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads in 2021. After five appearances with the High-A Beloit Sky Carp in early 2021, Sterner was acquired by the Rays in a July trade.
Since acquisition by Tampa Bay, Sterner has gradually climbed through the Double-A and Triple-A ranks. His three-and-a-half seasons in the minors includes a 4.14 ERA, 247 strikeouts, 14 saves and a 17-9 record in 119 appearances. made his MLB debut on May 31, pitching two scoreless innings versus the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Sterner becomes BYU’s 26th alum to play in The Show and first to ever suit-up for the Rays. Sterner joins Michael Rucker as the second former Cougar currently in the MLB. Rucker pitched for BYU from 2013 to 2016 and made his MLB debut with the Chicago Cubs on July 30, 2021. He is now in his first season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Justin is one of three Sterner brothers to take the mound for BYU. Jack Sterner pitched for the Cougars from 2019-2023, while Luke Sterner just completed his sophomore season in Provo in 2024.