Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

A relatively unheralded Florida high school recruit, Nikhazy set Mississippi's freshman strikeout record (86 in 89 2/3 innings, surpassing future big leaguers Jeff Calhoun and Drew Pomeranz) and made the U.S. collegiate national team in 2019. He served as the Rebels' No. 1 starter in 2020 and opened this year in that role before a pectoral strain sidelined him for two weeks. He was better than ever upon returning and set school records for wins (12, third in NCAA Division I) and single-game strikeouts (16 in a regional win over Florida State) while finishing fifth in D-I in whiffs (142 in 92 innings).  

Nikhazy's pitchability stands out more than his stuff, which is highlighted by a pair of solid breaking balls, a mid-70s curveball with 12-6 break and a short mid-80s slider/cutter. He sets them up with an 88-92 mph fastball that peaks at 94 but plays up because his high three-quarters arm slot and extension create deceptive angle and run. He also has a 78-82 mph changeup with tumble and fade. 

Nikhazy lacks projection in his stocky 6-foot frame, but his spin rates and fastball metrics will be attractive to teams that emphasize analytics. Scouts love his competitiveness, his ability to change the shapes and speeds of his pitches and his track record of success. He'll need to refine his average control at the next level because he doesn't have much margin for error, but he comes with a high floor as a good bet to become a back-of-the-rotation starter or a lefty reliever. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Nikhazy starred in his two full college seasons at Mississippi, setting a since-broken Rebels freshman record for strikeouts (86 in 89 2/3 innings) in 2019 and school marks for wins (12) and single-game whiffs (16) in 2021. He ranked third in NCAA Division I in victories and fifth in strikeouts (142 in 92 innings) in '21 en route to signing for $1.2 million as a second-round choice. His control fell apart in his first two pro seasons but he has regained it in 2024 while succeeding in Double-A and Triple-A.

Nikhazy always has been known for his feel for spin, and while his tight mid-80s slider/cutter is his best pitch, his curveball has changed for the worse. He's throwing it harder in the upper 70s but with less depth, and it has been getting roughed up this season. He has compensated by adding a couple of ticks of fastball velocity, working at 91-93 mph and missing bats thanks to its sink and run.

Though Nikhazy doesn't use his low-80s changeup much, it's an effective offering with some tumble. He creates deception with a high arm slot and quality extension, and he's getting the most out of his repertoire by challenging hitters more aggressively this year. He's a potential back-of-the-rotation starter or long reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40 

In two full seasons at Mississippi, Nikhazy set the Rebels freshman record for strikeouts (86 in 89 2/3 innings) in 2019 and school marks for victories (12) and single-game whiffs (16) in 2021. He ranked third in NCAA Division I in wins and fifth in strikeouts (142 in 92 innings) that latter spring before signing for $1.2 million as a second-round pick. He continued to miss bats in his pro debut last year, fanning 128 in 102 1/3 frames, but he also walked 79 and was hit hard in three Double-A starts in September. 

Nikhazy baffles hitters with his breaking balls, a mid-70s curveball with big shape and a shorter mid-80s slider/cutter. His fastball features below-average velocity, sitting at 88-92 mph and topping out at 94, but he compensates by creating run and deception with his high three-quarters arm slot and quality extension. He also has an interesting changeup that ranges from 78-82 mph with tumble and fade. 

Nikhazy doesn't excite radar guns but succeeds with a combination of fastball metrics, breaking ball spin rates, savvy and mound presence. He wasn't terribly wild in his debut but a tendency to nibble and try to be too fine with his pitches led to his walk rate soaring from 3.2 per nine innings in college to 6.9 in 2022. He's going to have to demonstrate much better control and command to make it as a starter.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 

In two full seaons in college, Nikhazy set Mississippi's freshman record for strikeouts (86 in 89 2/3 innings) in 2019 and school marks for wins (12) and single-game whiffs (16) in 2021. He ranked third in NCAA Division I in victories and fifth in strikeouts (142 in 92 frames) last spring before signing with the Guardians for $1.2 million in the second round. Though he didn't pitch in a pro game in 2021, he quickly made an impression on club officials with his work ethic and desire to learn.

Nikhazy's best weapons are his breaking balls, a mid-70s downer curveball and a short mid-80s slider/cutter. He sets them up with a fastball that parks at 88-92 mph and peaks at 94, missing bats because his high three-quarters arm slot and extension create run and deception. He also can keep hitters off balance with a 78-82 mph changeup with tumble and fade. 

Nikhazy is a stocky 6-foot starter without projection or wow stuff, but his fastball metrics, breaking ball spin rates and savvy make him effective. Hitters don't seem to get good swings against him because he constantly varies the shapes and speeds of his pitches. After throwing strikes in college, he has lapsed during his 2022 pro debut and will need to refine his control and command to become a No. 4 starter.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

In Nikhazy's two full college seasons, he set Mississippi's freshman record for strikeouts (86 in 89 2/3 innings) in 2019 and school marks for wins (12) and single-game whiffs (16) this spring. After he ranked third in NCAA Division I in victories and fifth in strikeouts (142 in 92 innings) in 2021, the Indians selected him in the second round and signed him for $1.2 million. All told, Cleveland grabbed college arms with 11 of its top 12 picks in July.

Nikhazy's ability to mix four pitches stands out more than any of his individual offerings, the best of which are his solid breaking pitches, a mid-70s curveball with 12-6 break and a short mid-80s slider/cutter. He sets them up with an 88-92 mph fastball that tops out at 94 but plays better than its velocity because his high three-quarters arm slot and extension create deceptive angle and running action. He also can throw hitters off balance with a 78-82 mph changeup that features some tumble and fade.

While Nikhazy is a stocky 6-foot starter who lacks physical projection, his spin rates and fastball metrics make him more effective than his pure stuff suggests he should be. He'll need to refine his average control, because he doesn't have a huge margin for error. Scouts love the way he competes and changes the shapes and speeds of his pitches, and he comes with a high floor as either a back-of-the-rotation starter or lefty reliever.

Awards

EAS Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
04/14/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	06/24/2024	LHP Doug Nikhazy assigned to Columbus Clippers from Akron RubberDucks.
	06/24/2024	Columbus Clippers activated LHP Doug Nikhazy.
	05/05/2024	Akron RubberDucks activated LHP Doug Nikhazy from the 7-day injured list.
	04/17/2024	Akron RubberDucks placed LHP Doug Nikhazy on the 7-day injured list. Left oblique strain.
	03/07/2024	Cleveland Guardians Prospects activated LHP Doug Nikhazy.
	08/30/2022	LHP Doug Nikhazy and assigned to Akron RubberDucks from Lake County Captains.
	07/23/2022	Lake County Captains activated LHP Doug Nikhazy from the 7-day injured list.
	07/14/2022	Lake County Captains placed LHP Doug Nikhazy on the 7-day injured list.
	04/07/2022	LHP Doug Nikhazy assigned to Lake County Captains.
	08/17/2021	LHP Doug Nikhazy assigned to Indians Organization.
	07/24/2021	Cleveland Indians signed LHP Doug Nikhazy.
	01/28/2021	LHP Doug Nikhazy assigned to Ole Miss Rebels.
	01/28/2021	LHP Doug Nikhazy assigned to Ole Miss Rebels.