Louisville outfielder Levi Usher isn't your typical Division I college baseball player. Just four years ago, having not received the attention he felt he deserved, Usher could have been viewed as an afterthought by some standards.
A three-sport star at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Usher suffered a broken leg his senior season playing football and received just two scholarship offers. He was never given the opportunity to ‘pop’ during his final year in prep athletics. Without a destination he felt up to par for his expectations, Usher instead went the JUCO route, choosing to attend Kirkwood Community College.
That ended up being a good decision.
"I just had to play it pretty patiently,” Usher said in a 2020 interview with Prospects Live. “I played three sports in high school, and never played much summer ball. Not getting much exposure and breaking my leg created that perfect storm to place me at Kirkwood, which was the opportunity I needed.”
After an impressive freshman season at Kirkwood, Usher transferred to Louisville and quickly introduced himself to college baseball and its highest competition. The 6-foot-1 outfielder batted .411/.484/.571 with two homers over 17 games on a loaded Cardinals team filled with first-round talent.
Usher may not have drawn much attention as a prep, but that has drastically changed heading into the 2021 MLB Draft cycle. With his array of tools and athleticism, he is widely viewed as a potential first rounder by scouts and talent evaluators. His talent didn’t go entirely unnoticed in 2019 though. Usher was selected in the 37th round by the Los Angeles Angels before transferring to Louisville.
Usher's dominant COVID-shortened season and summer showcase in the Northwoods League saw his draft stock skyrocket, but he is determined to prove he can sustain this success over a full season.
“I am new to Division I baseball,” Usher said. “I don’t think a lot of people have seen me, but I want to show what I’m capable of.”
Usher is surrounded by bonafide sluggers at Louisville, a much different environment compared to his freshman season at Kirkwood. Cardinals catcher Henry Davis and third baseman Alex Binelas are projected first-round picks, but Usher stands out amongst his fellow teammates with his combination of speed and power. He’s a long-strider with the upside of a guy who can steal a lot of bags at the next level. The other two cannot say the same.
Usher is multi-dimensional.
The speed and quickness translate well into center field, where he consistently gets a good jump on the ball and has a strong arm capable of making difficult throws.
“I just try to stay on my feet and be prepared,” he said. “My arm comes into play quite a bit. I have the ability to throw guys out, which is one of my favorite things about playing in the outfield.”
At the plate, Usher's quick hands generate loud contact and impressive bat speed from the left side. He continues to tap into more and more in-game power, something that will be important should he find himself being selected early next July.
The fact is, nobody really knows how much game power Usher has just yet. Scouts have thrown grades anywhere between below average and solid average on the lefties ability to hit the ball over the fence. He hopes to show it’s more of the latter.
“I felt like I had to prove I could hit at the Division I level,” he said. “All the hard work paid off, and it was great to see it translate on the field.”
Along with his array of tools on the field, Usher's character and overall make up speak volumes away from it. He credits Louisville's coaching staff and winning culture, a recipe that’s helped establish a perennial powerhouse.
Usher still reflects on his summer camp workouts in Kentucky -- the scorching days of summer and dry June workouts. Those crucial team routines helped him adjust and succeed so quickly.
“It’s all about the culture of getting better,” he said. “I came in that summer and they really pushed me… I remember that first day, we’re running 800 (meters) and I’m thinking ‘Do I even belong here? It’s the middle of the summer, my friends are out having fun and I’m in the middle of Kentucky running long distance.’ It was a huge shock and definitely humbled me, I had to make some changes that I adapted to."
With a bevy of talent at the plate and on the mound, Louisville ranked as high as No. 2 in the country by prognosticators in 2020. The same expectations exist heading into next season.
Usher and company hold themselves to a high bar, but playing amongst a slew of potential MLB prospects certainly has its benefits.
“It makes it easier for everyone including myself,” he said. “I was hitting in the No. 5 or No. 6 hole last year, and having guys on constantly gives me better pitches. Hitting is contagious, once one guy gets a hit it carries on.”
As the season nears, Usher can build upon his draft status with another eye-opening spring. His journey from under-the-radar JUCO product to potential first rounder won't slow his commitment to improve in every facet of the game.
“I need to keep working on the little things,” he said. “... I want to develop more power at the plate and get some consistency with my swing."