SerpApi.Org
Norwin High School star pitcher Caden Sivrich had an extremely difficult decision to make.
The senior right-hander had to choose between two options, fortunately both of them were good ones.
Sivrich had to decide between sticking with his commitment to pitching for the Pitt Panther baseball program or turn pro and report to the Oakland Athletic’s minor league camp.
Sivrich made a verbal commitment to the Panthers back on July 11, 2025, but last week, he was selected in the 14th round of the MLB Draft.
If he went to college, he would have the opportunity to improve his MLB Draft status. By signing with Oakland, Sivrich would begin his professional career immediately and collect the guaranteed money that came along with his signing bonus.
On Tuesday, Sivrich made his decision and signed with the Athletics at the team’s spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona. From now until September, Sivrich will train with other rookies in the Oakland farm system.
”It was probably the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my life just because of the everything that came along with it,” Sivrich tells Pittsburgh Sports Now. “I would need to move across the country away from everything I’ve ever known to be able to chase my dreams, or stay close to home and hopefully get the opportunity again.”
“The reason I chose to go is because this type of opportunity might not come around again, and I felt that taking this opportunity now would be in my best interest to be able to achieve my dream of becoming a major leaguer. Not many kids get drafted out of high school, go to school, and then get drafted again, so I felt that this was just a great opportunity for me.”
While this is huge moment for Sivrich and his family, this is tough news for Mike Bell and Pitt.
Over the last handful of years, the WPIAL has produced some top D-1 talent, but Pitt has not been able to keep those players home.
It looked as though they were going to do that with Sivrich but that won’t be happening.
This past season for Norwin High School, Sivrich was clocked at 96 MPH by MLB scouts and even hit 98 MHP over the winter.
