| Kyle Nicolas | |
| Team: | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Number: | 62 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 22 February 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Massillon, Ohio, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 19 |
| Debutyear: | 2023 |
| Debutteam: | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | August 3, 2024 |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 2–2 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 4.19 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 48 |
| Teams: |
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Kyle Todd Nicolas (born February 22, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Nicolas grew up in Massillon, Ohio and attended Jackson High School, where he played baseball and basketball. He won state titles in both sports as a senior and was named the Federal League Co-Player of the Year in baseball after going 8–0 with a save and a 0.50 ERA on the mound while also batting .349 with 24 RBIs.[1] [2]
Nicolas played for the Ball State Cardinals for three seasons. In 2019, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] As a junior, Nicolas went 0–1 with a 2.74 ERA in four starts before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[4]
Nicolas was selected 61st overall by the Miami Marlins in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Nicolas began the 2021 season with the High-A Beloit Snappers.[7] Nicolas was promoted to the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos after posting 3–2 record with a 5.28 ERA and 86 strikeouts in innings with Beloit.[8]
On November 29, 2021, Nicolas was traded along with Zach Thompson and Connor Scott to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jacob Stallings.[9] He spent the 2022 season with the Double–A Altoona Curve, making 24 appearances (22 starts) and posting a 3.97 ERA with 101 strikeouts across innings pitched.[10]
In 2023, Nicolas made 35 appearances (18 starts) split between Double–A Altoona and the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians, registering a cumulative 4–7 record and 5.20 ERA with 127 strikeouts and 2 saves in innings pitched.[11] On September 19, 2023, Nicolas had his contract selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[12] In 4 appearances during his rookie campaign, he struggled to an 11.81 ERA with 7 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Nicolas was optioned to Triple–A Indianapolis to begin the 2024 season.[13]
Nicolas is the nephew of former Penn State and NFL quarterback Todd Blackledge.[14]