Locals In MLB: Trio Of Former Beehive College Stars Optioned To Minors

Jun 11, 2025, 4:10 PM | Updated: Jun 12, 2025, 9:30 am

Digital Sports Producer

SALT LAKE CITY – First-year Athletics reliever Justin Starter opened the year on a heater, but a recent swoon led the A’s to option the former Cougar to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Sterner is one of three MLB locals who have recently been demoted to the minors. Former Ute DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and former UVU Wolverine Paxton Schultz are headed back to Triple-A.

MIN – Ryan Jeffers Solo HR (4)

📏 Distance: 414 ft
💨 EV: 104 mph
📐 LA: 24°
⚾️ 93.9 mph four-seam fastball (ATH – RHP Justin Sterner)
🏟️ Would be out in 29/30 MLB parks

MIN (1) @ ATH (0)
🔺 1st#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/SmbLS7m0nv

— MLB Home Runs🚀 (@MLBHRs_) June 5, 2025

Sterner gave up eight earned runs in his past four appearances, which have ballooned his ERA from 1.78 to 4.28.

Justin Sterner | Pitcher | BYU Cougars

Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators – Athletics

2025 Stats: 29 Games | 1-3 | 4.28 ERA | 27.1 IP | 30 Ks | 14 BBs | 1.43 WHIP

Last 15 Games: 0-3 | 9.24 ERA ERA | 12.2 IP | 12 Ks | 5 BBs | 1.89 WHIP

Sterner has yet to appear in a game with Las Vegas since being optioned on June 5.

The A’s are 26-43 and trail the Houston Astros by 11.5 games in the AL West.

Addison Barger (5)

Opponent: Athletics
Pitcher: Justin Sterner
Date: 6/1/25 pic.twitter.com/h4JgmTkL5h

— TOR Home Runs (@TOR__HR) June 2, 2025

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.

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

Triple-A St. Paul Saints – Minnesota Twins

2025 Stats: 45 games | .109 BA | 7 Hits | HR | 4 RBI | BB | 21 Ks | BB | 5 SB

Last 15 Games: .143 BA | 5 Hits | HR | 4 RBI | 13 Ks | BB

Keirsey Jr. is hitting .250 with three doubles and four RBI through seven games with the Saints.

Minnesota is 35-31 and trails the MLB-leading Detroit Tigers by eight games in the AL Central.

He collected our first hit of the game with two outs in the 6th and he gives us the lead back with two outs in the 7th. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. knocks an RBI single into center. Lead 5-4 pic.twitter.com/FJRn0GpK51

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) June 11, 2025

The left-handed former Utah outfielder made his MLB debut in September, playing six games with the Twins. He 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.

Paxton Schultz | Pitcher

Triple-A Buffalo Bison – Toronto Blue Jays

2025 MLB Stats: 8 Games | 0-0 | 3.06 ERA | 17.2 IP | 24 Ks | 4 BB | 1.25 WHIP

2025 MiLB Stats: 9 Games | 1-3 | 3.48 ERA | 20.2 IP | 22 Ks | 7 BB | 1.16 WHIP

Paxton Schultz was optioned back to Triple-A Buffalo on June 9. He gave up two hits without any runs in his last appearance on June 8.

Toronto is second in the AL East, four games behind the New York Yankees.

RELATED: Paxton Schultz Makes Record-Setting MLB Debut

ROSTER MOVES:

🔹 RHP Spencer Turnbull has been recalled from Triple-A

🔹 RHP Paxton Schultz has been optioned to Triple-A pic.twitter.com/a5kOr4LuT7

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 8, 2025

Shultz appeared in 46 games (30 starts) over three seasons (2017-19) for Utah Valley, finishing his career with a 3-17 record and 4.61 ERA in 209 innings. As a junior in 2019, Schultz threw a career-high 99.1 innings in 15 starts. He ended the year with a 4.08 ERA and tied the single-season program record with 99 punchouts, including a career-high 11 Ks against South Carolina.

The Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the 14^th round with the 433^rd overall pick. He started his minor league career in the Pioneer League with the Rocky Mountain Vibes before being traded to the Blue Jays in May 2021. He made minor league appearances in Vancouver, New Hampshire, and Buffalo.

The 6’3 righty became the third player in UVU history to be called up after Mitch Jones and Kam Mickolio. He made his MLB debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on April 20, 2025.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.

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