Nick Lodolo
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Nick Lodolo
|image =
|team = Cincinnati Reds
|number = 40
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|2|5}}
|birth_place = La Verne, California, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = April 13
|debutyear = 2022
|debutteam = Cincinnati Reds
|statyear = May 25, 2025
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 19–18
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 4.29
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 355
|baseball_ref = lodolni01
|teams =
- Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2022}}–present)
| awards =
}}
Nicholas Frank Lodolo ({{IPAc-en|l|oʊ|ˈ|d|oʊ|l|oʊ}} {{respell|loh|DOH|loh}};[https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/MLB%20Publications/2022%20Player%20Name%20Presentations%20&%20Pronunciation%20Guide.pdf Major League Baseball 2022 Player Name Presentation Preferences and Pronunciations (Cincinnati Reds page).] Retrieved April 28, 2022. born February 5, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Amateur career
Lodolo attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, and played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2016/04/15/damiens-nick-lodolo-hurls-4-0-baseball-shutout-over-rancho-cucamonga/ |title=Damien's Nick Lodolo hurls 4-0 baseball shutout over Rancho Cucamonga |last=Gardner |first=Michelle |date=April 15, 2016 |publisher=Daily Bulletin |access-date=April 2, 2019}} As a senior, he had a 8–2 win–loss record with a 1.97 earned run average (ERA), striking out 83 batters in 65 innings pitched.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2016/06/29/damiens-nick-lodolo-leads-the-all-inland-valley-baseball-team/|title=Damien's Nick Lodolo leads the All-Inland Valley baseball team|date=June 29, 2016|publisher=Daily Bulletin|accessdate=April 2, 2019}} After his senior year, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Lodolo with the 41st overall pick in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web |last=Helfand |first=Zach |date=June 10, 2016 |title=Damien left-hander Nick Lodolo selected by Pirates 41st overall |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/mlb/la-sp-nick-lodolo-20160609-snap-story.html |access-date=April 2, 2019 |website=Los Angeles Times}} However, he did not sign and instead chose to fulfill his commitment to attend Texas Christian University (TCU) and play college baseball for the TCU Horned Frogs.{{cite web | last=Berry | first=Adam | title=Pirates Draft pick Nick Lodolo doesn't sign | website=MLB.com | date=2016-07-14 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pirates-draft-pick-nick-lodolo-doesn-t-sign-c189701012 | access-date=2025-05-09}}
As a freshman at TCU in 2017, Lodolo appeared in 17 games (15 starts) where he compiled a 5–1 record with a 4.35 ERA.{{cite web | last=Davison | first=Drew | title=Mr. Calm: How Nick Lodolo is becoming TCU’s ace | website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram | date=2019-03-29 | url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article228561484.html | access-date=2025-05-09}} He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team as well as to the All-Freshman Team.{{cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=211604405|title=2017 All-Big 12 Baseball Teams and Awards Announced|date=May 23, 2017 |publisher=Big 12 Conference|accessdate=April 2, 2019}} In 2018, as a sophomore, he went 7–4 with a 4.32 ERA, striking out 93 batters in 77 innings over 16 games (15 starts) and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team once again.{{cite web | last=Davison | first=Drew | title=‘We need to stay healthy.’ TCU baseball enters season confident, but fragile | website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram | date=2019-02-15 | url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article226296830.html | access-date=2025-05-09}}{{cite web | last=Stevenson | first=Stefan | title=Familiar Texas name earns top Big 12 honors; TCU places eight on all-conference team | website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram | date=2018-05-22 | url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article211696094.html | access-date=2025-05-09}} Prior to the 2019 season, Lodolo was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.{{cite web | last=Triebwasser | first=Melissa B. | title=Nick Lodolo highlights Preseason All-Big 12 team for TCU | website=Frogs O' War|publisher=SB Nation | date=2019-01-31 | url=https://www.frogsowar.com/2019/1/31/18203863/nick-lodolo-highlights-preseason-all-big-12-team-for-tcu | access-date=2025-05-09}} Lodolo finished his junior season with a 6–6 record and a 2.36 ERA, striking out 131 in 103 innings.{{Cite web |last=Wallner |first=Jeff |date=June 3, 2019 |title=Reds draft LHP Nick Lodolo in first round |url=https://www.wcpo.com/sports/baseball/reds/reds-expected-to-draft-lhp-nick-lodolo-from-tcu-in-first-round-monday-night |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=WCPO|agency=Associated Press}} He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.{{cite web | last=Davison | first=Drew | title=Frogs feel they must win Big 12 Tournament to keep postseason hopes alive | website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram | date=2019-05-22 | url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article230660384.html | access-date=2025-05-09}} In his college career, he was 18–11 with a 3.55 ERA in 258{{fraction|2|3}} innings, in which he struck out 296 batters and hit 34 batters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lodolo000nic|title=Nick Lodolo College & Minor Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}
Professional career
Lodolo was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2019|title=MLB.com 2019 Prospect Watch|website=Major League Baseball}} He was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the seventh overall pick.{{cite web | last=Sheldon | first=Mark | title=Reds take Nick Lodolo with first round Draft pick | website=MLB.com | date=2019-06-04 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-take-nick-lodolo-with-first-round-draft-pick | access-date=2025-05-09}} He signed for $5.43 million, and was assigned to the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie Advanced Pioneer League.{{cite web | last=Sheldon | first=Mark | title=Reds sign first-round Draft pick Nick Lodolo | website=MLB.com | date=2019-06-11 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-sign-first-round-draft-pick-nick-lodolo | access-date=2025-05-09}}{{cite web|url=https://billingsgazette.com/sports/baseball/pioneer-league/cincinnati-reds-first-round-draft-pick-nick-lodolo-added-to-billings-mustangs-roster/article_2076bc1d-e4f8-539c-88d0-3dcaaace5f95.html|title=Cincinnati Reds first-round draft pick Nick Lodolo added to Billings Mustangs roster|website=Billings Gazette|date=June 18, 2019 }} After six starts with Billings, he was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the Single-A Midwest League in July.{{cite web | last=Nightengale | first=Bobby | title=Cincinnati Reds 1st-round pick Nick Lodolo debuts for Dayton Dragons | website=Cincinnati Enquirer | date=2019-07-26 | url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2019/07/26/cincinnati-reds-1st-round-pick-nick-lodolo-debut-dayton-dragons-kyle-farmer-tcu-draft-chris-sale-mlb/1832306001/ | access-date=2025-05-09}} Following two starts with Dayton, Lodolo reached his innings limit, and was shut down for the remainder of the year.{{cite web | last=Jablonski | first=David | title=Reds shut down first-round pick for rest of 2019 season | website=Dayton Daily News| date=2019-08-03 | url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/reds-shut-down-first-round-pick-for-rest-2019-season/tzSezbfsnzhbrXJkiRIaCM/ | access-date=2025-05-09}} Over eight starts between Billings and Dayton, he pitched to a 0–1 record with a 2.45 ERA, striking out 30 in {{fraction|18|1|3}} innings.{{cite web | last=Battifarano | first=Andrew | title=Reds' Lodolo shut down for rest of season | website=MiLB.com | date=2025-05-09 | url=https://www.milb.com/news/cincinnati-reds-nick-lodolo-shut-down-for-rest-of-season-309630248 | access-date=2025-05-09}}
Lodolo did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | last=Adler | first=David | title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled | website=MLB.com | date=2020-06-30 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled | access-date=2025-05-09}} To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A South.{{cite web | last=Paschall | first=David | title=Top Reds prospects Nick Lodolo, Hunter Greene to begin season with Lookouts | website=Chattanooga Times Free Press | date=2021-05-01 | url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2021/may/01/top-reds-prospects-lodolo-greene-begseasclass/ | access-date=2025-05-09}} He was named the league's Player of the Month in May after compiling a 1.01 ERA with 38 strikeouts and a 0.83 WHIP over {{fraction|26|2|3}} innings.{{cite web | last=Nyman | first=Rick | title=Lookouts Pitcher Nick Lodolo Named Double-A South Player of the Month | website=WDEF | date=2021-06-02 | url=https://www.wdef.com/lookouts-pitcher-nick-lodolo-named-double-south-player-month/ | access-date=2025-05-09}} On June 15, he was placed on the injured list due to a blister on a finger on his left hand, and was activated a few weeks later.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-nick-lodolo-starts-curtailed-by-blisters/|title=Reds' Nick Lodolo: Starts curtailed by blisters|website=CBSSports.com|date=June 15, 2021 }} That same month, Lodolo was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field.{{cite web | last=Callis | first=Jim | title=2021 Futures Game rosters | website=MLB.com | date=2021-06-30 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-futures-game-rosters | access-date=2025-05-09}} Over ten starts with the Lookouts, he went 2–1 with a 1.84 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 44 innings.{{Cite web |last=Dycus |first=Joseph |date=2021-08-11 |title=Life In A Suitcase: Nick Lodolo, Not Just Another Guy |url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2021/8/11/432740/Life-In-A-Suitcase-Nick-Lodolo-Not.aspx |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Chattanoogan.com}} In early August, he was promoted to the Louisville Bats of the Triple-A East.{{Cite web |date=August 3, 2021 |title=Top Prospect Nick Lodolo Promoted To Louisville |url=https://www.milb.com/news/top-prospect-nick-lodolo-promoted-to-louisville |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=MiLB.com}} He was placed back on the injured list in late August with a shoulder strain, and missed the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/nick-lodolo-666157|title=Nick Lodolo Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MiLB.com}} Over three starts with Louisville, Lodolo went 0-1 and gave up four earned runs and two walks while striking out ten over {{fraction|6|2|3}} innings.{{cite web | last=Ahles | first=Nick | title=Nick Lodolo: The next ace of the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation | website=Through The Fence Baseball| date=2021-09-26 | url=https://throughthefencebaseball.com/nick-lodolo-the-next-ace-of-the-cincinnati-reds-rotation/ | access-date=2025-05-09}}
On April 13, 2022, the Reds selected Lodolo's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.{{cite web|author=RotoWire Staff |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-nick-lodolo-called-up-from-minors/ |title=Reds' Nick Lodolo: Called up from minors |publisher=CBSSports.com |date= April 13, 2022|accessdate=April 13, 2022}} He made his MLB debut that day as the starting pitcher versus the Cleveland Guardians.{{cite web | last=Nightengale | first=Bobby | title=Nick Lodolo MLB debut: Reds prospect will start vs. Guardians | website=Cincinnati Enquirer | date=April 12, 2022 | url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2022/04/12/nick-lodolo-mlb-debut-reds-prospect-start-vs-guardians/7283066001/ | access-date=February 9, 2025}} Over four innings, he allowed five earned runs on seven hits (two home runs), three walks, and four strikeouts, taking the loss as the Reds fell 7–3.{{cite web | last=Clark | first=Dave | title=Nick Lodolo allows five runs in four innings in MLB debut | website=Cincinnati Enquirer | date=April 13, 2022 | url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/04/13/nick-lodolo-strikeouts-mlb-debut-cincinnati-reds-2019-first-round-draft-pick-gabp-cleveland/7307117001/ | access-date=February 9, 2025}} After three starts, he was placed on the injured list with a back strain.{{cite web | last=Anderson | first=R.J. | title=Reds place rookie lefty Nick Lodolo on injured list, activate Mike Moustakas | website=CBSSports.com | date=April 28, 2022 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/reds-place-rookie-lefty-nick-lodolo-on-injured-list-activate-mike-moustakas/ | access-date=February 9, 2025}} In 2022 he was 4–7 with a 3.66 ERA in 103{{fraction|1|3}} innings, and led the majors in hit batsmen, with 19.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/splits-leaderboards|title=Splits Leaderboards | FanGraphs|website=www.fangraphs.com}}
To begin the 2023 season, Lodolo made 7 starts for the Reds, struggling to a 6.29 ERA with 47 strikeouts in {{fraction|34|1|3}} innings pitched. On May 13, Lodolo was scratched from a scheduled start against the Miami Marlins with what was described as a lingering ankle/calf injury.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Nick Lodolo: Scratched from Saturday's start|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-nick-lodolo-scratched-from-saturdays-start/|access-date=June 3, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=May 13, 2023 |language=en}} An MRI of his left leg revealed a stress reaction in his tibia,{{Cite web|title=Reds' Nick Lodolo: MRI shows tibia stress reaction|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-nick-lodolo-mri-shows-tibia-stress-reaction/|access-date=June 3, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=May 17, 2023 |language=en}} and he was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 3.{{cite web | title=Reds' Nick Lodolo: Transferred to 60-day IL | website=CBSSports.com | date=June 3, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-nick-lodolo-transferred-to-60-day-il/amp/ | access-date=February 9, 2025}} On August 31, it was announced that Lodolo would miss the remainder of the season.{{cite web | title=Reds' Nick Lodolo: Done for rest of year | website=CBSSports.com | date=August 31, 2023 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-nick-lodolo-done-for-rest-of-year/ | access-date=February 9, 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|mlb=666157|espn=42433|br=l/lodolni01|fangraphs=sa917947|brm=lodolo000nic|retro=L/Plodon001}}
- [https://gofrogs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5173 TCU Horned Frogs bio]
{{2019 MLB Draft}}
{{Cincinnati Reds first-round draft picks}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lodolo, Nick}}
Category:Arizona Complex League Reds players
Category:Baseball players from Los Angeles County, California
Category:Billings Mustangs players
Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players
Category:Cincinnati Reds players
Category:Damien High School alumni
Category:Dayton Dragons players
Category:Louisville Bats players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers