Mike Nikorak
| IP | 68 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 7.015 |
| WHIP | 2.382 |
| BB/9 | 10.853 |
| SO/9 | 7.544 |
- Full name Michael Joseph Nikorak
- Born 09/16/1996 in Hackettstown, NJ
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Stroudsburg
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Drafted in the 1st round (27th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2015 (signed for $2,300,000).
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While he doesn't exactly have big league bloodlines, Mike Nikorak has seen first-hand what it takes to succeed at a high level of competition. His older brother Steve Nikorak played at Temple before a brief stint in the White Sox system and playing in the independent Can Am League in 2014. The younger Nikorak has quickly harnessed his natural arm strength to become one of the top prep pitchers in this year's class. After battling command issues at times as a junior, Nikorak emerged with elite velocity on the showcase circuit, flashing plus-plus velocity and showing feel for a breaking ball and changeup. Nikorak didn't maintain his stuff deep into outings, but he did exactly what scouts could have asked of him in the winter, hitting the weight room and adding meat to his 6-foot-3 frame, developing into an imposing power pitcher. With a clean arm action and outstanding athleticism, the 6-foot-5, 215-pounder has peaked at 97 mph this spring, with flashes of above-average offspeed stuff and command of his three-pitch mix. Nikorak will need to tighten his curveball, which has lacked consistency, and develop the stamina to hold his velocity deep into outings, but he has the potential to develop into an impact starter at the major league level.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: The 27th overall pick in 2015, Nikorak signed for $2.3 million out of high school. He had Tommy John surgery in 2016 that led to a 16-month rehab that culminated in a return to the mound late in 2018 at short-season Boise. Nikorak went to instructional league in 2018 and made impressive strides with his command.
Scouting Report: Nikorak's pitch mix is there. His four-seam fastball hits 97 mph, and his two-seamer can generate ground balls. His low-80s curveball provides an offspeed pitch with movement, and he has worked to refine his changeup. Pitching coaches Ryan Kibler and Bob Apodaca have worked with Nikorak to clean up his mechanics, knowing he has to be more consistent in the delivery to clean up his control problems. He has issued 62 walks in 55.1 pro innings, all in short-season ball.
The Future: The Rockies plan to get Nikorak on the mound in 2019 and have him take regular turns, most likely at low Class A Asheville. The potential that made him a high draft pick is there, but after the lengthy absence from the field following the Tommy John surgery, Nikorak has not moved up the ladder as quickly as anticipated. This will be a major year for his development. -
Nearly three years have passed since the Rockies drafted Nikorak with the 27th overall pick and signed him for $2.3 million to pass up a scholarship to Alabama. In that time he has made just 15 starts, worked 47 innings and has yet to advance past Rookie-level Grand Junction. Those totals won't get higher any time soon after he missed most of 2017 following Tommy John surgery. Prior to surgery, Nikorak still showed intriguing stuff. His fastball gets up to 97 mph and he has a two-seamer he can use to induce ground balls. He also showed signs of progress with his changeup and low-80s curveball. Most important, he smoothed out his mechanics under the eye of pitching coaches Ryan Kibler and Bob Apodaca and was throwing significantly more strikes, shaving his walks rate from a disastrous 16.3 per nine innings to 5.8. His control was still poor, but at least it was moving in the right direction. Nikorak's stuff and control strides show promise, but he has to stay healthy. The Rockies are tentatively planning to send Nikorak to an affiliate by midsummer. -
Nikorak has run up a 6.70 ERA through his first 47 pro innings after signing for $2.3 million as the 27th overall pick in 2015. He passed on a scholarship to Alabama. When Nikorak arrived at extended spring training after being drafted, he was out of whack with his mechanics, and that first summer was spent trying to rectify that issue. He had a breakthrough in instructional league and, with help of pitching coaches Ryan Kibler and Bob Apodaca, appeared ready to move forward in 2016 as he repeated the Pioneer League. But he strained a ligament in his right index finger and was shut down after seven starts. Another strong instructional league, however, gave an indication Nikorak had regained his proper arm action and velocity. His two-seam fastball sits in the low 90s and generates an extreme rate of ground balls. He jumps to 97 mph with his four-seamer that has life. He has the potential for an average low-80s curveball, which will provide separation from his fastball, and shows signs of a changeup, though it is inconsistent. At 6-foot-5, he is taller than most pitchers but is very athletic, having played quarterback in high school. Nikorak needs innings and some confidence in 2017. -
The Rockies used the money saved by signing No. 3 overall pick Brendan Rodgers' to a below-slot deal to sign Nikorak, the 27th overall pick in 2015, for an above-slot $2.3 million, luring the righthander away from Alabama. Nikorak, whose older brother Steve played briefly in the White Sox organization, electrified the showcase circuit as a high school junior but struggled mightily in his debut at Rookie-level Grand Junction. Poor control was the main culprit. Nikorak issued 32 walks in 18 innings, a rate of 16.3 per nine innings that contributed to a ghastly 3.28 WHIP. Boasting a projectable 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame, he still is learning how to repeat his mechanics and find a consistent release point. He has touched as high as 97 mph with a lively fastball, but he lives a few ticks lower than that and still needs to gain the stamina to hold his velocity. Nikorak has feel for a curveball and changeup. His curveball needs to get tighter, and his command of both pitches can improve, but his offspeed stuff has plus potential. Patience is the key word with Nikorak, whose next stop could be low Class A Asheville in 2016. He has the stuff and frame to be an impact starter but could end up in the bullpen if he can't corral his wildness.
Draft Prospects
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While he doesn't exactly have big league bloodlines, Mike Nikorak has seen first-hand what it takes to succeed at a high level of competition. His older brother Steve Nikorak played at Temple before a brief stint in the White Sox system and playing in the independent Can Am League in 2014. The younger Nikorak has quickly harnessed his natural arm strength to become one of the top prep pitchers in this year's class. After battling command issues at times as a junior, Nikorak emerged with elite velocity on the showcase circuit, flashing plus-plus velocity and showing feel for a breaking ball and changeup. Nikorak didn't maintain his stuff deep into outings, but he did exactly what scouts could have asked of him in the winter, hitting the weight room and adding meat to his 6-foot-3 frame, developing into an imposing power pitcher. With a clean arm action and outstanding athleticism, the 6-foot-5, 215-pounder has peaked at 97 mph this spring, with flashes of above-average offspeed stuff and command of his three-pitch mix. Nikorak will need to tighten his curveball, which has lacked consistency, and develop the stamina to hold his velocity deep into outings, but he has the potential to develop into an impact starter at the major league level.
