Nick Mears

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Nick Mears

|image = Nick Mears (51282569494) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Mears with the Indianapolis Indians in 2021

|team = Milwaukee Brewers

|number = 25

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|10|7}}

|birth_place = Sacramento, California, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 8

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 22, 2025

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 3–6

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.49

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 154

|teams =

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2022}})
Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2024}}–present)

}}

Nicolaus Tanner Mears (born October 7, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies.

Amateur career

Mears attended Rocklin High School and played college baseball at Sacramento City College. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an undrafted free agent in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/from-out-of-nowhere-nick-mears-reaches-double-a/|title=From Out Of Nowhere, Nick Mears Reaches Double-A|first=Tim|last=Williams|website=www.baseballamerica.com|date=October 13, 2019 }}

Professional career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Mears reached the Double-A Altoona Curve in his first full professional season, though he spent the bulk of the season with the High-A Bradenton Marauders. Across three levels in 2019, Mears threw 46.2 innings, striking out 69 while walking just 18, maintaining a 3.28 ERA while being used exclusively out of the bullpen.

Mears was called up to the majors for the first time on August 8, 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/08/08/Pirates-option-MIguel-Del-Pozo-select-Nick-Mears-Altoona/stories/202008080064|title=Pirates' game Monday in St. Louis — and maybe more — postponed|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} and made his major league debut that night, pitching one inning, allowing one run, against the Detroit Tigers. Mears made four appearances with the Pirates that season, throwing five innings and giving up three runs.

Mears began the 2021 season at the Alternate Training Site, and joined the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians when their season began in May. Recalled to the Pirates for the first time on May 26, he didn't make an appearance until his fourth stint with the major league team, which began on July 20.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-nick-mears-back-with-big-club/ |title=Pirates' Nick Mears: Back with big club |work=CBS Sports |date=July 20, 2021}}[https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401228481 D'backs win 3rd straight, score 8 in 7th to top Pirates 11-6]

Mears was placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the year on March 15, 2022, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow.{{Cite web|title=Pirates' Nick Mears: Shut down following elbow surgery|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-nick-mears-shut-down-following-elbow-surgery/amp/|access-date=January 7, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He was activated on August 20, and optioned to Triple–A Indianapolis.{{Cite web|title=Pirates' Nick Mears: Activated and optioned|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-nick-mears-activated-and-optioned/|access-date=June 13, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=August 20, 2022 |language=en}} On December 18, 2022, Mears was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Connor Joe.

=Colorado Rockies=

On December 23, 2022, Mears was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers.{{cite web | url=https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-trade-diego-castillo-to-arizona-for-pitching-prospect-rangers-claim-nick-mears/ | title=Pirates trade Diego Castillo to Arizona for pitching prospect; Rangers claim Nick Mears | date=December 23, 2022 }} Four days later, Mears was designated for assignment to make room for free-agent signing Nathan Eovaldi.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nathan-eovaldi-rangers-deal |title=Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers agree to two-year contract |work=MLB.com |first1=Kennedi |last1=Landry |first2=Ian |last2=Browne |date=December 27, 2022}}

On January 6, 2023, Mears was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies.{{Cite web|title=Rangers announce 2023 Major League coaching staff|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-rangers-announce-2023-major-league-coaching-staff|access-date=January 6, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He was optioned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to begin the 2023 season.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Nick Mears: Optioned to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-nick-mears-optioned-to-triple-a/|access-date=March 25, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=March 21, 2023 |language=en}} In 16 games for the Rockies, Mears posted a 3.72 ERA with 21 strikeouts.

Mears made 41 appearances out of the bullpen for Colorado in 2024, registering a 5.56 ERA with 57 strikeouts across {{fraction|45|1|3}} innings pitched.

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On July 27, 2024, Mears was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera.{{cite news |title=Brewers acquire right-handed reliever Nick Mears from Rockies |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40657792/brewers-acquire-right-handed-reliever-nick-mears-rockies |access-date=July 28, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |date=July 27, 2024}}