2024 Athletics Season In Review: Vinny Nittoli
A quick stop for the journeyman righty
Season In Review series continues! Today’s player? Right-handed reliever Vinny Nittoli, who made it into a grand total of seven games for the Athletics in their final year in the East Bay.
How Was He Acquired?
The right-handed Nittoli was originally drafted by the division-rival Seattle Mariners way back in 2014. Over the next decade he would bounce around the league, making stops in Toronto (twice), New York, Arizona, Seattle (twice), Minnesota, Chicago, New York (again), before finally landing with the A’s on a minor league pact in late October 2023.
What were the expectations?
Considering Nittoli had only made five career appearances in the major leagues, no one was expecting a Sean Doolittle-type surprise jump into high-leverage innings. Nittoli had put up decent numbers during his minor league career but considering he was only signed to a minor league deal, the expectations were fairly low entering the year. Maybe a depth piece, maybe roster filler during the dog days of summer?
2024 Results
Nittoli began the season with the Las Vegas Aviators and looked good over the first half of the season, appearing in 20 games and posting a solid 2.70 ERA in the hitter-friendly PCL. The 34-year-old finally made it back to the major leagues in June when the club selected him to the active roster. The righty made it into seven games with the Green & Gold, pitching eight innings and allowing just two runs. The team ended up designating him for assignment after 17 days on the active roster, continuing Nittoli’s travels. A quick stint in the Cubs’ and Orioles’ systems preceded his final destination of 2024, back in New York in the Mets’ system.
2025 Outlook
Nittoli will continue his journeys next season in Milwaukee. The right-hander has already signed on with the Brewers for next season, securing a deal with an invite to Spring Training next year. And with the Brewers residing in Arizona during camp we should be seeing him for his new club soon enough.