LHP With Size, Stern Brings A Lot Of Potential

Erik Stern LHP / 1B / Walsh Jesuit, OH / 2021

AKRON - It is hard not to like Erik Stern.

A left-handed pitcher standing 6-7 and weighing in at 205 pounds, the Walsh Jesuit junior certainly stands out.

“Since I was young I’ve always been taller than most,” related Stern, who has grown two inches and added 15 pounds in the past year. “Coaches have always said to me that I have the potential to be a college athlete if I kept working.”

That is exactly what the 38th-rated 2021 in Ohio has been doing.

“I’ve gotten a lot stronger and that’s helped my velocity,” Stern pointed out. “Mentally, I’m a lot stronger. I’m not as flustered when there’s a day it’s not going as well on the mound. Back in 10u-11u when something wasn’t going my way, things didn’t go well on the field. I’ve gotten a lot better at that, knowing my teammates have my back. Now I stay composed and don’t let it get to me.”

Added strength is a huge focus for the sixth-ranked junior left-handed pitcher in the state.

“It’s important to get stronger and add more velo,” Stern said. “That’s a big thing for me.”

The lone visit to date was with Akron, with the Mid-American Conference school giving Stern an offer.

“I really liked the coaching staff at Akron,” Stern noted. “They were really welcoming there. The players were nice and I liked their use of technology and high-speed cameras and how they said they could develop me to be one of the best in the country.”

Ohio University and Miami are others that have shown an interest in Stern since the Future Games last August, with Purdue another Division I program additionally in the mix.

“A lot of the colleges I’ve talked with like my frame and that I have the potential to grow into my body and get stronger,” Stern pointed out.