Kyle Nicholson
| IP | 344 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.663 |
| WHIP | 1.151 |
| BB/9 | 1.439 |
| SO/9 | 6.593 |
- Full name Kyle A. Nicholson
- Born 07/31/1985 in Erie, PA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Texas A&M
-
Drafted in the 7th round (224th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2007 (signed for $35,000).
View Draft Report
Righthander Kyle Nicholson had a nondescript first three years at Texas A&M, winning a combined 10 games and pitching mostly in relief. He has been invaluable as a swingman in 2007, keying an Aggies resurgence by going 11-1 with four saves and a Big 12 Conference-leading 1.92 ERA entering the NCAA regionals. He's just 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, but he could sneak into the first five rounds thanks to the exceptional sink on his two-seam fastball. He also has an 89-92 mph four-seamer, a curveball and a changeup that dives at the plate. He could move quickly as a set-up man in pro ball.
Top Rankings
Minor League Top Prospects
-
It's extremely difficult to rank a 23-year-old college pitcher among the top prospects in a complex-based league, but it's even harder to ignore Nicholson based on his performance this year and the potential to move quickly through the Giants system. A seventh-round draft pick in 2007, he needed Tommy John surgery shortly after turning pro. He returned 10 1/2 months later to pitch the entire season in the AZL, tossing a complete-game shutout in his final outing to clinch a playoff berth. Nicholson's numbers were outstanding as he led the league in ERA (1.15) and K-BB ratio (54-3) while ranking second in wins (six). Despite his dominance, he stayed in the AZL all summer to keep him from overextending himself so soon after surgery. He has three quality pitches, an 87-89 mph fastball with exceptional late sink, a changeup and a curveball. He could regain velocity as he gets further removed from his surgery. He spots his pitches very well and changes speeds effectively.
