Nick Sandlin

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Nick Sandlin

|image = Nick Sandlin (52649011812) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Sandlin with the Cleveland Guardians in 2023

|team = Toronto Blue Jays

|number = 52

|position = Pitcher

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|1|10}}

|birth_place = Evans, Georgia, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 1

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Cleveland Indians

|statyear = April 19, 2025

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 19–10

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.23

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 233

|teams =

Cleveland Indians / Guardians ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Nick Howard Sandlin (born January 10, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians / Guardians.

Amateur career

Sandlin - a sidearm style pitcher - attended Greenbrier High School in Evans, Georgia. He enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi and played college baseball for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. In 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1067200 |title=#8 Nick Sandlin - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |date= |accessdate=September 25, 2019}} In 2018, his junior year, Sandlin won the C Spire Ferriss Trophy, given to the best collegiate baseball player in Mississippi.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/southern-miss/blitz/2018/05/21/southern-miss-ace-nick-sandlin-wins-ferriss-trophy/626571002/ |title=Southern Miss ace Nick Sandlin wins Ferriss Trophy |publisher=Clarionledger.com |date=May 21, 2018 |accessdate=June 17, 2018}} and was named Conference USA's Baseball Pitcher of the Year{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/southern-miss/blitz/2018/05/22/southern-miss-luke-reynolds-nick-sandlin-part-historic-conference-usa-awards-haul/627394002/ |title=USM's Luke Reynolds, Nick Sandlin part of historic C-USA awards haul |publisher=Clarionledger.com |date=May 22, 2018 |accessdate=June 17, 2018}} and the National Pitcher of the Year Award from Perfect Game/Rawlings.{{cite web|last=Magee |first=Patrick |url=http://www.sunherald.com/sports/college/conference-usa/university-of-southern-mississippi/article213089354.html |title=Cleveland Indians pick Nick Sandlin named Pitcher of the Year |publisher=The Sun Herald |date=June 13, 2018 |accessdate=June 17, 2018}}

Professional career

=Cleveland Indians / Guardians=

The Cleveland Indians selected Sandlin in the second round, with the 67th overall selection, of the 2018 MLB draft.{{cite web|last=Magee |first=Patrick |url=http://www.sunherald.com/sports/college/conference-usa/university-of-southern-mississippi/article212573389.html |title=Cleveland Indians pick USM pitcher Nick Sandlin in MLB Draft |publisher=The Sun Herald |date=June 5, 2018 |accessdate=June 17, 2018}} He signed with Cleveland, receiving a $750,000 signing bonus.{{cite web|author=Staff Reports |url=http://www.augustachronicle.com/sports/20180613/former-greenbrier-standout-nick-sandlin-signs-professional-baseball-contract |title=Former Greenbrier standout Nick Sandlin signs professional baseball contract - Sports - The Augusta Chronicle - Augusta, GA |publisher=The Augusta Chronicle |date= |accessdate=June 17, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Burnett |first=Jayson |url=http://www.wdam.com/story/38429338/former-usm-pitcher-nick-sandlin-signs-deal-with-indians |title=Former USM pitcher Nick Sandlin signs deal with Indians - WDAM-TV 7-News, Weather, Sports-Hattiesburg, MS |publisher=Wdam.com |date= June 15, 2018|accessdate=June 17, 2018}} He spent the 2018 season with the rookie-level Arizona League Indians, Single-A Lake County Captains, High-A Lynchburg Hillcats, and Double-A Akron RubberDucks, compiling a combined 2–0 record and 3.00 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 24 total relief innings pitched between the four clubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=680704#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL|title=Nick Sandlin Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|accessdate=December 27, 2018}}

In 2019, Sandlin played for Akron and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. He went a combined 1–0 with a 2.39 ERA over {{fraction|26|1|3}} innings. On July 1, it was announced that he would miss the rest of the season due to a right forearm strain. {{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/indians-nick-sandlin-shut-down-for-season/|title=Indians' Nick Sandlin: Shut down for season|author=RotoWire Staff|work=CBS Sports|date=July 1, 2019|accessdate=July 1, 2019}} Sandlin did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html | title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled | date=June 30, 2020 }}

On April 30, 2021, Sandlin was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/minor-mlb-transactions-43021.html | title=Minor MLB Transactions: 4/30/21 | date=April 30, 2021 }} On May 1, Sandlin made his MLB debut against the Chicago White Sox and struck out White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton for his first major league strikeout. He made 34 relief outings during his rookie campaign, posting a 2.94 ERA with 48 strikeouts across {{fraction|33|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Cleveland Guardians: Nick Sandlin is back, baby|url=https://awaybackgone.com/2022/08/26/cleveland-guardians-nick-sandlin-is-back-baby/|access-date=December 28, 2024|website=awaybackgone.com|language=en}}

Sandlin pitched in 46 games out of the bullpen during the 2022 season, compiling a 5-2 record and 2.25 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 44 innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Relievers Enyel De Los Santos, Nick Sandlin ready to return: Guardians takeaways|url=https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2023/03/reliever-enyel-de-los-santos-nick-sandlin-ready-to-return-guardians-takeaways.html?outputType=amp|access-date=December 28, 2024|website=cleveland.com| date=March 7, 2023 |language=en}} In 2023, he made 61 appearances, logging a 5-5 record and 3.75 ERA with 66 strikeouts over 60 innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Nick Sandlin 2023 pitching Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/41385/year/2023/category/pitching|access-date=December 28, 2024|website=espn.com|language=en}} Sandlin made 68 appearances for Cleveland in 2024, registering an 8-0 record and 3.75 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 1 save across {{fraction|57|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays trade for Guardians 2B Andrés Giménez, pitcher Nick Sandlin|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blue-jays-trade-for-guardians-2b-andres-gimenez-pitcher-nick-sandlin-230954011.html|access-date=December 28, 2024|website=sports.yahoo.com|date=December 11, 2024 |language=en}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On December 10, 2024, Sandlin, alongside Andrés Giménez, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Spencer Horwitz and Nick Mitchell.{{cite web|last1=Matheson|first1=Keegan|title=Toronto swings trade for Giménez from Guards|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-guardians-andres-gimenez-trade|website=mlb.com|publisher=MLB|date=December 10, 2024|accessdate=December 10, 2024}}

Personal life

His older brother, Jake, also played baseball for Greenbrier and Southern Miss.{{cite web|author=5:02 p.m. CT March 17, 2016 |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/southern-miss/2016/03/17/sandlin-siblings-have-been-stellar-southern-miss/81929588/ |title=Sandlin siblings have been stellar for Southern Miss |publisher=Clarionledger.com |date=March 17, 2016 |accessdate=June 17, 2018}}