From Samoa to MLB debut, it's hard to top Sterner's story

BALTIMORE -- Justin Sterner stood in the visitors’ clubhouse at Camden Yards on Friday afternoon, reflecting on the path that had brought him to this point.

He was undrafted out of high school, with no offers to play in college. He spent two years without holding a baseball in his right hand while on a mission to Samoa. He walked on at Brigham Young University. He wasn’t selected in the five-round 2020 MLB Draft, and he was nearly 24 years old when he signed with the Marlins as an undrafted free agent. After parts of three seasons in Triple-A with the Rays, he felt “stuck.”

“Everybody's got a different story, and everyone has unique journeys and long roads to get here,” Sterner said. “I'd like to think I have a pretty unique one.”

On Friday night, Sterner’s journey finally brought him to a Major League mound. Promoted to add depth to an overworked Tampa Bay bullpen, the 27-year-old right-hander pitched the final two innings as the Rays (28-30) lost, 3-1, to the Orioles (36-19) in their first matchup of the season.

“Just a privilege and a blessing,” Sterner said afterward. “Just grateful that I had the opportunity.”

After starter Aaron Civale and relievers Richard Lovelady and Phil Maton combined to allow three runs in the sixth, Sterner held the Orioles to two hits and a walk while striking out two in his 28-pitch debut.

“I thought Justin kept his composure really well,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I was glad that his family got in to see it. That's a big moment for him. He should be really happy with himself.”

Especially given the unusual route he took to get here.

After graduating from Dana Hills High School in California, Sterner left his comfortable life in Laguna Niguel to serve a two-year mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Apia, Samoa. Going to the South Pacific as an 18-year-old opened his eyes. He grew up quickly. He learned the language and lived among the people.

Sterner met one family that included a pregnant wife who hadn’t yet chosen a name for her baby. His companion on the mission suggested Sterner’s name. Sterner said he still occasionally gets photo updates of little Justin Sterner Notoa “running around in Samoa somewhere.”

“The biggest lesson for me was that all of this stuff is just kind of extra,” Sterner said. “It's a dream. I've always wanted it. But at the end of the day, you’ve got your family [and] you’ve got the people you love.

“I'm so glad I did it. To this day, even if I didn't get to this point, if someone came up to me and said, ‘Hey, those two years stopped you from getting to the big leagues,’” he said, “I would have said, ‘OK, that's great. That's fine with me.’ Those experiences, I'll carry with me forever.”

When he didn’t hear anything immediately after the 2020 Draft, Sterner figured he’d return to school and play alongside his two brothers. Then the Marlins saw him pitch in a summer league game and offered him a contract, only to trade him 11 months (and 12 appearances) later.

“I feel like a homegrown Ray, but at the same time, [I'm] so grateful to the Marlins for taking a chance on me,” he said.

Sterner posted a 5.27 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A last year, battling a nagging groin injury and wondering where he fit moving forward. He pitched in the Dominican Republic this past winter, which he said served as a “reset” that led to improved performance.

Still, he didn’t know what to expect when Durham manager Morgan Ensberg called him into his office on Thursday. But it was good news. Sterner was going to The Show.

Sterner sat in the bullpen all night, trying to gather his thoughts. His teammates congratulated him when they discovered his secret after the game. He didn’t sleep much Thursday night. He made the calls he needed to make. His wife, Courtney, and 2-year-old son made it to Baltimore from Provo, Utah, along with her parents. His parents and a few siblings traveled from California to be here for his debut.

When the call for his first pitch came through his PitchCom transmitter, Sterner said, his whole body went numb. All he could think was, “Well, hopefully, this goes over the plate.” Sterner couldn’t remember afterward that he had indeed thrown a fastball for a called strike to Ryan O’Hearn.

But he won’t forget the rest of the night.

“A couple of guys had said, 'This is the only time you're gonna get to debut, so take it all in. Don't regret anything on this day,’” Sterner said. “Just trying to take it all in at this point.”