Nick Loftin
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Nick Loftin
|image = Nick Loftin home run!! (52939308351) (cropped).jpg
|caption = Loftin with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023
|team = Kansas City Royals
|number = 12
|position = Utility player
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|9|25}}
|birth_place = Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = September 1
|debutyear = 2023
|debutteam = Kansas City Royals
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = June 25, 2025
|stat1label = Batting average
|stat1value = .223
|stat2label = Home runs
|stat2value = 2
|stat3label = Runs batted in
|stat3value = 29
|teams =
- Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2023}}–present)
}}
Nicholas James Loftin (born September 25, 1998) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Amateur career
Loftin attended W. B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he played baseball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.caller.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2017/06/24/q-a-all-south-texas-baseball-mvp-nick-loftin/424346001/|title=Q&A with All-South Texas Baseball MVP Nick Loftin|first=Len|last=Hayward|website=Caller-Times}} As a senior in 2017, he batted .465 with three home runs alongside going 11–4 with a 1.10 ERA on the mound.{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2017 |title=Caller-Times 2017 High School Honors The All-South Texas Baseball Team |url=https://www.iwacc.org/uploaded/images/Campus_News/2016-2017/Angels_in_the_News/2017-06-26_4C_IWA_Senior_Makes_All-South_Texas_Baseball_Team_CALLER.pdf |website=Caller-Times |page=4C}} He originally committed to play college baseball at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, but later switched his commitment to Baylor University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/local/hometown-heroes/2019/04/02/hometown-heroes-five-questions-baylors-nick-loftin/3291591002/|title=HOMETOWN HEROES: Five Questions with Baylor's Nick Loftin|first=Ashlee|last=Burns|website=USA TODAY}} He was not selected out of high school in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://baseballprospectjournal.com/nick-loftin-prides-himself-on-team-first-mindset/|title=Nick Loftin prides himself on team-first mindset|date=February 20, 2020|website=Baseball Prospect Journal}}
In 2018, Loftin's freshman year at Baylor, he appeared in 55 games (making 53 starts), batting .306 with six home runs and 36 RBIs, earning Freshman All-American honors alongside being named to the Big 12 Conference All-Second Team and All-Freshman Team.{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2018 |title=Baylor's Loftin named Baseball America freshman All-American |url=https://www.kwtx.com/content/sports/Baylors-Loftin-named-Baseball-America-freshman-All-American-487954871.html |website=KWTX}}{{Cite web|url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/baylor/loftin-receives-baseball-america-freshman-honors/article_c61a4d68-3558-5823-816c-3cf344fcce35.html|title=Loftin receives Baseball America freshman honors|author=Staff report|website=WacoTrib.com|date=July 11, 2018 }} As a sophomore in 2019, Loftin started 53 games in which he hit .323 with six home runs, 41 RBIs, and 18 doubles.{{Cite web |last=Cherry |first=Brice |date=January 24, 2020 |title=Expectations haven't graduated for Baylor baseball |url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/baylor/expectations-havent-graduated-for-baylor-baseball/article_2eeedf29-6363-5973-8d45-cc64e5a2b2b7.html |website=WacoTrib.com}}{{Cite web |last=Cherry |first=Brice |date=April 11, 2019 |title=Can't keep him off the field: Baylor's easy come-easy go Loftin brings ample versatility |url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/baylor/article_aace5d9a-5bff-5490-97ac-6712540a30bd.html |website=WacoTrib.com}} He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadanews.com/sports/local_sports/all-big-12-baseball-awards/article_917b6b73-3106-5072-97ab-6cf41fa17af9.html|title=All-Big 12 Baseball Awards|website=The Ada News|date=May 23, 2019 }} That summer, he played for both the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League and for the United States collegiate national baseball team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.caller.com/story/sports/college/2019/07/02/corpus-christi-ray-high-school-baseball-baylor-infielder-nick-loftin-play-usa-baseball-select-team/1627025001/|title=Ray grad and Baylor infielder Nick Loftin to play for USA Baseball select team|first=Len|last=Hayward|website=Caller-Times}}{{Cite web |author= |date=June 18, 2019 |title=Baylor's Loftin gets his shot with USA Baseball |url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/baylor/baylors-loftin-gets-his-shot-with-usa-baseball/article_0bbfeead-8d13-5b0c-b5b1-b2a838a1f70a.html |website=WacoTrib.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usabaseball.com/golden-spikes-award/news/topic/golden-spikes/gsa-spotlight-nick-loftin-312971426|title=GSA Spotlight: Nick Loftin|website=USA Baseball}}{{ cite web | url=https://www.usabaseball.com/news/forty-one-usa-baseball-alumni-selected-in-the-2020-mlb-draft/c-313510892/?tid=216639934 | title=Forty-One USA Baseball Alumni Selected in the 2020 MLB Draft | work=USA Baseball | date=June 12, 2020 | accessdate=June 26, 2020 }}{{cite web|url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1318549&seasonid=31871 |title=Nick Loftin - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=September 4, 2023}} Prior to Loftin's junior year in 2020, he was named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Player of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.caller.com/story/sports/college/2020/01/29/ray-grad-baylor-nick-loftin-named-big-12-preseason-player-year/4609797002/|title=Ray grad, Baylor infielder Nick Loftin named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year|first=Quinton|last=Martinez|website=Caller-Times}}{{Cite web |title=Led by Nick Loftin, Baylor baseball is a legitimate Big 12 and NCAA tournament contender |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2020-01-14/led-nick-loftin-baylor-baseball-legitimate-big-12-and-ncaa |website=NCAA.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcentv.com/article/sports/baylor-shortstop-nick-loftin-headlines-preseason-all-big-12-team/500-8ca7050c-1ec7-4602-bbe3-992ecdf0f8d1|title=Baylor shortstop Nick Loftin headlines Preseason All-Big 12 team|date=January 29, 2020|website=kcentv.com}} Over 14 games for his junior season, he batted .298 with two home runs and 15 RBIs before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professional career
The Kansas City Royals selected Loftin with the 32nd overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web |last=Cherry |first=Brice |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Loftin's 'so surreal' draft moment preceded by plenty of nerves |url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/baylor/loftins-so-surreal-draft-moment-preceded-by-plenty-of-nerves/article_6a7a933f-d6e9-5202-8756-fed8d1ddb1a3.html |website=WacoTrib.com}} On June 23, Loftin signed with the Royals on a $3 million signing bonus.{{Cite web |author= |date=June 23, 2020 |title=Ex-Baylor SS Loftin signs with Royals |url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/baylor/ex-baylor-ss-loftin-signs-with-royals/article_6e70dedf-87b9-5985-a0ec-7f4bbfc6be33.html |website=WacoTrib.com}} He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-season-cancelled-x2793|title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Cancelled|website=MiLB.com}}
Loftin was assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Central for the 2021 season, slashing .289/.373/.463 with ten home runs and 57 RBIs over ninety games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-set-2021-minor-league-rosters|title=Royals announce Minor League rosters|website=MLB.com}} He was assigned to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League to begin the 2022 season.{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2022 |title=First Round Pick Asa Lacy Headlines the Naturals 2022 Roster |url=https://www.milb.com/northwest-arkansas/news/naturals-release-2022-breaking-roster |website=MiLB.com}} In early August, he was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A International League.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-nick-loftin-bumped-up-to-triple-a/ | title=Royals' Nick Loftin: Bumped up to Triple-A | date=August 9, 2022 }} Over 128 games between the two teams, he slashed .254/.333/.403 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/nick-loftin-679845 | title=Nick Loftin Stats, Fantasy & News}}
Loftin returned to Omaha to open the 2023 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-royals-top-prospects-are-starting-2023-season | title=Where Royals top prospects are starting 2023 season | website=MLB.com }} In 82 games in Triple-A, he batted .270/.344/.444 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. On September 1, 2023, Loftin was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Royals' Nick Loftin: Debuting as designated hitter|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-nick-loftin-debuting-as-designated-hitter/|access-date=September 1, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=September 2023 |language=en}} He played in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rosters-announced-for-2023-arizona-fall-league | title=Here are the 2023 Arizona Fall League rosters | website=MLB.com }}
On May 31, 2024, Loftin pitched a scoreless ninth inning in relief during a blowout against the San Diego Padres. In 56 appearances for the Royals, he batted .189/.282/.236 with one home run, 14 RBI, and one stolen base.
Loftin was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Cavan Biggio Expected To Make Royals’ Roster|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/cavan-biggio-royals-opening-day-roster.html|access-date=March 27, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=679845|espn=4314013|br=l/loftini01|fangraphs=27630|brm=loftin000nic|retro=L/Ploftn001}}
- [https://baylorbears.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-loftin/9912 Baylor Bears bio]
{{Kansas City Royals roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Loftin, Nick}}
Category:Arizona Complex League Royals players
Category:Baseball players from Corpus Christi, Texas
Category:Baylor Bears baseball players
Category:Hyannis Harbor Hawks players
Category:Kansas City Royals players
Category:Major League Baseball infielders
Category:Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Category:Omaha Storm Chasers players
Category:Quad Cities River Bandits players