Kyle Todd Nicolas (born February 22, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
| Kyle Nicolas | |
|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 62 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: February 22, 1999 Massillon, Ohio, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 19, 2023, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 2–2 |
| Earned run average | 4.65 |
| Strikeouts | 62 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Amateur career
editNicolas grew up in Massillon, Ohio and attended Jackson High School, where he played baseball and basketball. He won state titles in both sports as a senior and was named the Federal League Co-Player of the Year in baseball after going 8–0 with a save and a 0.50 ERA on the mound while also batting .349 with 24 RBIs.[1][2]
Nicolas played for the Ball State Cardinals for three seasons. In 2019, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] As a junior, Nicolas went 0–1 with a 2.74 ERA in four starts before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[4]
Professional career
editMiami Marlins
editNicolas was selected 61st overall by the Miami Marlins in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Nicolas began the 2021 season with the High-A Beloit Snappers.[7] Nicolas was promoted to the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos after posting 3–2 record with a 5.28 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 59+2⁄3 innings with Beloit.[8]
Pittsburgh Pirates
editOn November 29, 2021, Nicolas was traded along with Zach Thompson and Connor Scott to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jacob Stallings.[9] He spent the 2022 season with the Double–A Altoona Curve, making 24 appearances (22 starts) and posting a 3.97 ERA with 101 strikeouts across 90+2⁄3 innings pitched.[10]
In 2023, Nicolas made 35 appearances (18 starts) split between Double–A Altoona and the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians, registering a cumulative 4–7 record and 5.20 ERA with 127 strikeouts and 2 saves in 98+2⁄3 innings pitched.[11] On September 19, 2023, Nicolas had his contract selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[12] In 4 appearances during his rookie campaign, he struggled to an 11.81 ERA with 7 strikeouts across 5+1⁄3 innings pitched.
Nicolas was optioned to Triple–A Indianapolis to begin the 2024 season.[13]
Personal life
editNicolas is the nephew of former Penn State and NFL quarterback Todd Blackledge.[14]
References
edit- ^ Weir, Josh (May 31, 2017). "Jackson's Dillon Dingler and Kyle Nicolas are back for more". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Jackson's Dillon Dingler and Kyle Nicolas: From checkerboard to MLB Draft board". The Repository. June 8, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "#43 Kyle Nicolas". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "Former Jackson teammates Dillon Dingler, Kyle Nicolas share unknown futures after collegiate baseball season stopped". The Columbus Dispatch. March 22, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Jackson's Kyle Nicolas picked 61st overall by Miami Marlins in MLB Draft". The Repository. June 11, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "Jackson grad Kyle Nicolas begins journey toward MLB dreams". The Suburbanite. June 23, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Miami Marlins promote Jackson pitcher Kyle Nicolas Double-A Pensacola". The Repository. July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Bucs get 3 players from Miami for Stallings". Pittsburgh Pirates. November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ "Kyle Nicolas - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "Pirates' Kyle Nicolas: Selected to MLB roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Pirates select contract of Kyle Nicolas, option Thomas Hatch to Triple-A". post-gazette.com. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Pirates' Kyle Nicolas: Optioned to minor-league camp". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Kyle Nicolas Rewarded For Breakout Season". Baseball America. August 24, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Ball State Cardinals bio