Guardians News and Notes: Meet Doug Nikhazy
News and Notes for Friday, April 25th, 2025
The Guardians are sending Zak Kent back to Columbus and promoting left-hander Doug Nikhazy for his first stint on a major league roster. Trainiax on Twitter had the news:
The Cleveland Guardians have optioned RHP Zak Kent to AAA Columbus, presumably setting up for the reported promotion of LHP Doug Nikhazy tomorrow.
— Trainiax (Gabriel Arias Truther) (@TrainiaxCLE) April 25, 2025
Nikhazy is the 21st ranked Guardians prospect by MLB Pipeline. The southpaw features a 91 mph four-seamer (thrown about 34% of the time), a slider (41%), a changeup (14%) and a curveball (11%).
Drafted out of Ole Miss in the second round in 2021, Nikhazy has a great competitive mentality and a fun 3/4's arm slot that throws hitters off:
Doug Nikhazy assigned to Columbus Clippers from Akron RubberDucks
— JT (@Dukeswasmyguy) June 24, 2024
New Doug is headed to AAA
The pitcher with a rapper's name is packing up his 57.14% NH% and 13.2% SwStr to hit the road. Big key will be the walks, they gotta stay down like they were earlier in the year. Good… pic.twitter.com/CYIOexdDF1
So far this season, he's given up some hard contact but has increased his strikeouts per 9 by almost 2 to around 11 and decreased his walks per 9 by about 0.4 to around 3.4.
He figures to be the longman in the bullpen for a bit. It'll be great to see him test his stuff against big leagues hitters for a while. The Guardians now have four lefties on their major league staff which hasn't happened in a minute.
The Athletic's Zack Meisel had a great piece on Steven Kwan.
Lucas Kelly from FanGraphs gives some reason to continue to hope on Luis Ortiz.
AROUND MLB:
The White Sox beat the Twins and the Royals swept the Rockies