Josh Sharpless graduated from Freedom High School in 1999 and was a four-year starter for Allegheny College from 2000 through 2003, earning second-team All-Conference in 2001 and first-team All-Conference in 2003 as a pitcher in the North Coast Athletic Conference. At Allegheny, Josh still ranks among the top 5 in school history in games started, innings pitched, strikeouts, and strikeouts per nine innings.

After graduating from Allegheny, Josh was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 24th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball June amateur draft and pitched 31.1 innings for the Williamsport PA Crosscutters in the minor leagues, helping the Crosscutters win the Short-Season Single A championship. In 2004, Josh pitched 71.4 innings for the Hickory NC Crawdads and played a key role in leading the Crawdads to the South Atlantic League Championship.

In 2005, Josh pitched for the Altoona PA Curve and the Lynchburg VA Hillcats. In 2006, Baseball America rated Josh the 17th best prospect in the Pirates system. That year, Josh pitched for the Indianapolis IN Indians and the Altoona PA Curve and was selected to play in the XM Radio Satellite Futures All-Star Game featuring top minor league prospects. At that July 9th All-Star Game at PNC Park, Josh pitched a game-high 1.1 scoreless innings to help lead the U.S. to a victory over the World team. His notable achievements earned Josh recognition in 2007 as Baseball America's 5th best prospect in the Pirates system.

On August 1, 2006, right-handed Josh made his Major League debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves. For the Pirates in 2006, Josh pitched 12.0 innings across 14 appearances, with an excellent 1.50 ERA. Josh started 2007 for the Indianapolis IN Indians, before being called back up to the Pirates. Josh was released by the Pirates during spring training in 2008 and soon signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants, pitching in 2008 for the Giants' minor league affiliate Connecticut Defenders. Josh finished his professional baseball career in 2009 with the York PA Revolution of the independent Atlantic League.

After seven years playing professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants, Josh is now sharing his knowledge and experience coaching and mentoring the development of future pitchers. He is presently the senior director of pitching for Battleground Baseball Group, a pro-level baseball and softball training and development facility in Callery, PA.

Josh and his wife Jane Och have been married for 17 years and live in Bethel Park with their sons: 14-year-old Andrew and 12-year-old Nathan.

− Photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates