John Nogowski

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = John Nogowski

| image = John Nogowski (cropped).jpg

| caption = Nogowski with Florida State in 2013

| width = 175

| team = Kansas City Monarchs

| number = 13

| position = First baseman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|1|5}}

| birth_place = Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 16

| debutyear = 2020

| debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = 2021 season

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .233

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 1

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 14

| teams =

St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2021}})

}}

John Francis Nogowski (born January 5, 1993) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 34th round of the 2014 MLB draft. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Career

=Oakland Athletics=

Nogowski attended North Florida Christian School and played college baseball at Florida State University, batting .307/.431/.443 in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=nogows000joh|title=John Nogowski College, Minor, Fall, Independent & Winter Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

Nogowski was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 34th round, with the 1,032nd overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. He split his first professional season between the rookie-level Arizona League Athletics and Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters, batting a combined .264/.351/.347 with one home run and 32 RBI. In 2015, he made 96 appearances for the High-A Stockton Ports, and batted .274/.352/.364 with four home runs and 45 RBI. Nogowski split the 2016 campaign between Stockton and the Double-A Midland RockHounds, slashing an aggregate .273/.345/.402 with eight home runs and 38 RBI across 91 total games.

On March 27, 2017, Nogowski was released by the Athletics organization, prior to the start of the season.

=Sioux City Explorers=

On May 18, 2017, Nogowski signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. Nogowski played in 32 games for Sioux City, slashing .402/.482/.607 with four home runs, 28 RBI, and three stolen bases.

=St. Louis Cardinals=

The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Nogowski’s contract on June 27, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/baseball/Springfield-Cardinals/2017/07/22/first-baseman-not-wasting-second-chance-cardinals/492778001/|title=First baseman not wasting second chance with Cardinals|first=Harrison|last=Keegan|website=Springfield News-Leader}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/baseball/2017/07/03/nogowski-making-second-opportunity/103404114/|title=Nogowski making most of his second opportunity|first=Jim|last=Henry|website=Tallahassee Democrat}} He would finish the 2017 season with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals. He would also spend most of the 2018 season with them, batting .309/.392/.463. He spent 2019 with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, batting .295/.413/.476 in 380 at bats while coming in third in the PCL with 69 walks and 10 hit-by-pitch, and tying for fourth by grounding into 15 double plays.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=d9339ccc&type=bat|title=2019 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

Nogowski was called up to the majors for the first time on August 15, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ky3.com/2020/08/14/st-louis-cardinals-to-promote-top-prospect-dylan-carlson/|title=St. Louis Cardinals to promote top prospect Dylan Carlson|first=Joey|last=Schneider|website=ky3.com|date=14 August 2020 }} He made his major league debut the next day against the Chicago White Sox and got his first major league hit off of Dallas Keuchel. In 2021, Nogowski made the Opening Day roster after batting .333 with two home runs over 33 spring training at-bats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-2021-opening-day-roster|title=Cardinals finalize 2021 Opening Day roster|website=MLB.com}} Nogowski limped to a .056/.150/.056 slash line in 19 games with St. Louis before being designated for assignment on June 28, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/cardinals-select-roel-ramirez-designate-john-nogowski.html|title=Cardinals Select Roel Ramirez, Designate John Nogowski|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=28 June 2021 }}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On July 3, 2021, Nogowski was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/07/cardinals-trade-john-nogowski-to-pirates-for-cash-considerations.html|title=Cardinals Trade John Nogowski To Pirates For Cash Considerations|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=3 July 2021 }} He hit .261 with 1 home run and 14 RBIs in 33 games with the Pirates. On July 7, in just his third game with the Pirates, Nogowski was used as a pitcher in a relief role. Facing a strong Atlanta lineup, Nogowski allowed a single, but retired the other three batters he faced.{{Cite web|url=https://rumbunter.com/2021/07/17/pittsburgh-pirates-john-nogowski-becoming-yinzer-cult-hero/ |title=Pittsburgh Pirates: John Nogowski Becoming a Yinzer Cult Hero |website=rumbunter.com |date=2021-07-17 |access-date=2023-08-20}} He was designated for assignment on August 16, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/pirates-designate-john-nogowski-for-assignment.html|title=Pirates Designate John Nogowski For Assignment|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=16 August 2021 }} On August 20, Nogowski cleared waivers and was assigned outright to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/john-nogowski-596056|title=John Nogowski Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MLB.com}} On September 20, the Pirates released Nogowski.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/09/pirates-release-john-nogowski-kaai-tom.html|title = Pirates Release John Nogowski, Ka'ai Tom| date=20 September 2021 }}

=San Francisco Giants=

On September 22, 2021, Nogowski signed a two-year minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants organization.{{Cite web|url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2021/09/22/sf-giants-sign-john-nogowski-milb/|title = SF Giants sign veteran 1B John Nogowski to minor league deal| date=22 September 2021 }} Nogowski appeared in 8 games for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, hitting just .185/.290/.444 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI.

=Atlanta Braves=

On December 8, 2021, the Atlanta Braves selected Nogowski from the Giants in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.{{cite news |last1=Mayo |first1=Jonathan |title=Rule 5 Draft results, pick by pick |url=https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/2021-rule-5-draft-minor-league-phase |access-date=December 10, 2021 |work=MLB.com |date=December 8, 2021}} In 40 games for the Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers, he batted .234/.338/.323 with 2 home runs, 14 RBI, and 6 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=John Nogowski - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/john-nogowski/16852/stats?position=1B|access-date=October 7, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} Nogowski was released by the Braves organization on June 16, 2022.

=Washington Nationals=

On June 22, 2022, Nogowski signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. He was assigned to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, hitting .202 in 30 games before being promoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings later in the season. In 47 games for Rochester, he batted .290/.409/.401 with 2 home runs, 24 RBI, and 6 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{cite web|title=2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-22-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=June 16, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 9, 2021 |language=en}}

=High Point Rockers=

On April 28, 2023, Nogowski signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web | url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/ | title=Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions }} In 37 games for the Rockers, Nogowski batted .297/.419/.625 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI, and 5 stolen bases. He was released by the team on June 9.{{Cite web|title=John Nogowski Stats, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/john-nogowski-596056|access-date=June 17, 2023|website=milb.com|language=en}}

=Sioux City Explorers (second stint)=

On June 16, 2023, Nogowski signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Professional Baseball.{{cite web |title=American Association of Professional Baseball - 2023 Transactions |url=https://aabaseball.com/transactions/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=aabaseball.com}} In 17 games with Sioux City, Nogowski hit .313/.397/.484 with 2 home runs, 9 RBI, and 3 stolen bases.

=Acereros de Monclova=

On July 5, 2023, Nogowski's contract was purchased by the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. In 24 games for Monclova, he batted .277/.340/.319 with no home runs and 14 RBI.

=Sioux City Explorers (third stint)=

On August 19, 2023, Nogowski was acquired on loan by the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Professional Baseball. In 34 games for the Explorers, he batted .317/.419/.480 with 4 home runs and 16 RBI.

On May 2, 2024, Nogowski re-signed with the Explorers.{{Cite web|title=2024 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/2024-transactions/|access-date=May 2, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}} In 100 appearances for the team, he batted .346/.461/.553 with 15 home runs, 76 RBI, and seven stolen bases.

=Kansas City Monarchs=

On June 3, 2025, Nogowski signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=2025 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/2025-transactions/|access-date=June 3, 2025|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}}