Sterling Sharp Stats & Scouting Report

IP	5.1
ERA	15.19
WHIP	2.81
BB/9	3.38
SO/9	8.44

Full name Sterling Sharp
Born 05/30/1995 in Southfield, MI
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 182 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Drury
Debut 08/05/2020
Drafted in the 22nd round (664th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2016.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

TRACK RECORD: The Marlins took Sharp from the Nationals in the 2019 Rule 5 draft, even after he missed three months because of an oblique injury. Sharp's worst major league outing of 2020 was his last one, when he gave up five runs (four earned) in one-third of an inning against the Nationals. Less than a week later, he cleared waivers and was returned to Washington.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sharp's 89-93 mph sinker and extreme groundball rate in Double-A made for an intriguing possibility in the Marlins' bullpen, but they couldn't hold a roster spot for him once they became a playoff contender. Aside from his sinker, Sharp throws an above-average changeup in the upper 80s and a low-80s breaking ball. He hides the ball and repeats his delivery well, but he struggled with his control in the big leagues. He has a lean build but has gained strength without hurting the athleticism he shows in his slam dunks on the basketball court.

THE FUTURE: A starter throughout his minor league career, Sharp's best route for long-term success is likely as a groundball-inducing reliever. He'll continue on a more typical trajectory in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: Widely viewed as the best athlete in the Nationals' system, Sharp has a pinned tweet of himself dunking a basketball after moving the ball between his legs in mid-air. He was flying high again at the beginning of the 2019 season at Double-A Harrisburg, but an oblique injury kept him out of action for nearly three months. He made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, winning a pitcher of the week honor and achieving a 1.50 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and 24 strikeouts in 24 innings. The Marlins picked him third overall in the Rule 5 major league draft in December.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sharp mostly throws sinkers in the 89-93 mph range and logged a 63 percent groundball rate in Double-A. He doesn't miss an overwhelming amount of bats, but he keeps the ball on the ground and limits damage. Sharp complements his sinker with an above-average changeup in the upper 80s and throws a low 80s breaking ball that grades out a tick below average. Sharp hides the ball well and repeats his delivery to give him average control. He has a lean build but has gained strength as he has risen through the minors.

THE FUTURE: Sharp has to stay on the major league roster all year with the Marlins. He has a chance to do so as a groundball-inducing reliever.
Track Record: The Nationals signed Sharp out of Drury (Mo.) University despite a 5.90 ERA at the Division II school in 2016, but the lanky, athletic righthander has come into his own in three years in the Nationals system. A gifted athlete, Sharp was recruited to play basketball in college but that athleticism has transferred well to the mound.

Scouting Report: Sharp doesn't overpower batters with velocity, but uses a sinking fastball in the 90-92 mph range with terrific boring action that he routinely locates in the bottom half of the strike zone. He complements his sinker with a changeup that has diving action as well, with a tick of armside run. The two pitches allowed him to record one of the highest groundball rates in the Nationals' system, with a 61.8 percent groundball rate in high Class A Potomac and a 55.8 percent groundball rate in Double A Harrisburg. Sharp also has a developing slider that could become a third average pitch, but he needs to improve his control of the offering and learn to trust it as much as his fastball and changeup. Sharp's stuff plays up thanks to plus deception, as he hides the ball well behind a lean body, which could be improved with added strength.

The Future: Sharp reached Double-A Harrisburg in 2018 and will likely return to the Eastern League to begin 2019. He has the overall package to be a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Athlete in the Washington Nationals in 2020
Rated Best Athlete in the Washington Nationals in 2019
Rated Best Control in the Washington Nationals in 2018

Scouting Reports

TRACK RECORD: The Marlins took Sharp from the Nationals in the 2019 Rule 5 draft, even after he missed three months because of an oblique injury. Sharp's worst major league outing of 2020 was his last one, when he gave up five runs (four earned) in one-third of an inning against the Nationals. Less than a week later, he cleared waivers and was returned to Washington.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sharp's 89-93 mph sinker and extreme groundball rate in Double-A made for an intriguing possibility in the Marlins' bullpen, but they couldn't hold a roster spot for him once they became a playoff contender. Aside from his sinker, Sharp throws an above-average changeup in the upper 80s and a low-80s breaking ball. He hides the ball and repeats his delivery well, but he struggled with his control in the big leagues. He has a lean build but has gained strength without hurting the athleticism he shows in his slam dunks on the basketball court.

THE FUTURE: A starter throughout his minor league career, Sharp's best route for long-term success is likely as a groundball-inducing reliever. He'll continue on a more typical trajectory in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: The Marlins took Sharp from the Nationals in the 2019 Rule 5 draft, even after he missed three months because of an oblique injury. Sharp's worst major league outing of 2020 was his last one, when he gave up five runs (four earned) in one-third of an inning against the Nationals. Less than a week later, he cleared waivers and was returned to Washington.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sharp's 89-93 mph sinker and extreme groundball rate in Double-A made for an intriguing possibility in the Marlins' bullpen, but they couldn't hold a roster spot for him once they became a playoff contender. Aside from his sinker, Sharp throws an above-average changeup in the upper 80s and a low-80s breaking ball. He hides the ball and repeats his delivery well, but he struggled with his control in the big leagues. He has a lean build but has gained strength without hurting the athleticism he shows in his slam dunks on the basketball court.

THE FUTURE: A starter throughout his minor league career, Sharp's best route for long-term success is likely as a groundball-inducing reliever. He'll continue on a more typical trajectory in 2021.
TRACK RECORD: Widely viewed as the best athlete in the Nationals’ system, Sharp has a pinned tweet of himself dunking a basketball after moving the ball between his legs in mid-air. He was flying high again at the beginning of the 2019 season at Double-A Harrisburg, but an oblique injury kept him out of action for nearly three months. He made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, winning a pitcher of the week honor and achieving a 1.50 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and 24 strikeouts in 24 innings. The Marlins picked him third overall in the Rule 5 major league draft in December.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sharp mostly throws sinkers in the 89-93 mph range and logged a 63 percent groundball rate in Double-A. He doesn’t miss an overwhelming amount of bats, but he keeps the ball on the ground and limits damage. Sharp complements his sinker with an above-average changeup in the upper 80s and throws a low 80s breaking ball that grades out a tick below average. Sharp hides the ball well and repeats his delivery to give him average control. He has a lean build but has gained strength as he has risen through the minors.

THE FUTURE: Sharp has to stay on the major league roster all year with the Marlins. He has a chance to do so as a groundball-inducing reliever.
TRACK RECORD: Widely viewed as the best athlete in the Nationals' system, Sharp has a pinned tweet of himself dunking a basketball after moving the ball between his legs in mid-air. He was flying high again at the beginning of the 2019 season at Double-A Harrisburg, but an oblique injury kept him out of action for nearly three months. He made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, winning a pitcher of the week honor and achieving a 1.50 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and 24 strikeouts in 24 innings. The Marlins picked him third overall in the Rule 5 major league draft in December.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sharp mostly throws sinkers in the 89-93 mph range and logged a 63 percent groundball rate in Double-A. He doesn't miss an overwhelming amount of bats, but he keeps the ball on the ground and limits damage. Sharp complements his sinker with an above-average changeup in the upper 80s and throws a low 80s breaking ball that grades out a tick below average. Sharp hides the ball well and repeats his delivery to give him average control. He has a lean build but has gained strength as he has risen through the minors.

THE FUTURE: Sharp has to stay on the major league roster all year with the Marlins. He has a chance to do so as a groundball-inducing reliever.

Career Transactions

RHP Sterling Sharp assigned to Aguilas del Zulia.
Portland Sea Dogs activated RHP Sterling Sharp from the 7-day injured list.
Portland Sea Dogs placed RHP Sterling Sharp on the 7-day injured list retroactive to June 15, 2023.
Portland Sea Dogs activated RHP Sterling Sharp from the 7-day injured list.
Portland Sea Dogs placed RHP Sterling Sharp on the 7-day injured list.
Portland Sea Dogs activated RHP Sterling Sharp from the 7-day injured list.
Portland Sea Dogs placed RHP Sterling Sharp on the 7-day injured list.
RHP Sterling Sharp assigned to Boston Red Sox.
RHP Sterling Sharp roster status changed by Boston Red Sox.
RHP Sterling Sharp assigned to Portland Sea Dogs.
Portland Sea Dogs activated RHP Sterling Sharp.
Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Sterling Sharp to a minor league contract.