Nick Pivetta Stats & Scouting Report

IP	145.2
ERA	4.14
WHIP	1.13
BB/9	2.22
SO/9	10.63

Full name Nicholas Johncarlo Pivetta
Born 02/14/1993 in Victoria, BC, Canada
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 214 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Lambrick Park Secondary
Debut 04/30/2017
Drafted in the 4th round (136th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2013 (signed for $364,300).

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Pivetta is a Canadian who spent time with the country's junior national team and went undrafted out of high school. He has blossomed at New Mexico JC and intrigues scouts with his 6-foot-5, 215-pound build and a fastball that has been clocked as high as 97 mph. As a starter, he pitches more in the 90-93 mph range. His slider and changeup show flashes of being above-average but have been inconsistent this spring. Pivetta has some funk to his delivery, as he's a bit of a short strider with a low three-quarters arm slot. A team will take a chance on Pivetta around the fifth round because he's seen as a fresh arm with potential. He has committed to New Mexico.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Phillies traded Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals in July 2015 to get Pivetta, who showed good stuff but struggled to throw strikes during the 2015 season in Double-A. Upon his return to the Eastern League in 2016, Pivetta showed improved command and made it to Triple-A Lehigh Valley the last month of the season. The Phillies worked on Pivetta's mechanics to get him going in a better direction to the plate, which helped him better locate his fastball. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph and can reach 97, combining good velocity, movement and downhill angle. Pivetta's out pitch is his hard curveball, which has good shape and late finish to miss bats. He throws a slider and a changeup, but neither offering is average yet. Improving his changeup to get more separation off his fastball will be key for Pivetta to give him a reliable third pitch against lefties. He projects as a back-end starter with a chance for more if his changeup matures. Pivetta should open 2017 in Triple-A but could crack Philadelphia's big league rotation by the end of the season.
Pivetta found his way from British Columbia to New Mexico JC, where the Nationals drafted him in 2013. The Phillies acquired him from the Nationals in July 2015 for Jonathan Papelbon. Pivetta sailed through his time at high Class A Potomac before the trade with above-average stuff but below-average command. Hitters caught up to Pivetta at the Double-A level, both before and after his trade to the Phillies, as his walk rate doubled. His low- to mid-90s fastball plays up because of the downhill plane produced by his 6-foot-5 frame. He couples the pitch with two breaking balls--a slider in the low 80s and a curveball in the high 70s--and a changeup with fade and dive that ranks as his fourth pitch. The Phillies will continue to give Pivetta, who strained an oblique toward the end of the 2015 season, a chance to start, beginning back at Reading in 2016.
A Canadian Junior National Team star in 2009 and 2010, Pivetta was fairly raw when he signed with the Nationals for $364,300 in 2013, but he made good progress in 2014 at low Class A Hagerstown. His velocity remained consistent all season, and he markedly improved his conditioning. Pivetta has a physical frame and a long, loose arm action that produces easy velocity. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph and bumps 96. It is effective when he repeats his delivery and pitches down in the zone with good angle, but he gets into trouble when he leaves the ball up. Likewise, the quality of his breaking ball depends upon whether he's staying over his lower half and controlling his delivery. At its best, his curveball is an above-average pitch with sharp 11-to-5 break and power, but at times he'll overthrow it. He also is developing feel for his changeup, which has good sinking action when he throws it with conviction--but he must learn to do so more consistently. Pivetta's mechanics and command still need work, but he has upside as a potential mid-rotation starter if he can continue to progress. He figures to spend 2015 at high Class A Potomac.
A native of British Columbia, Pivetta played for the Canadian Junior National Team in 2009 and 2010. He made a name for himself at New Mexico JC, and the Nationals took him in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, signing him away from a commitment to New Mexico for $364,300. Pivetta signed on June 18 and debuted a month later after securing a visa, and it took him some time to build his arm strength back up after the downtime. He works in the 90-93 mph range and touches 95, and his fastball could become even firmer as he fills out his lanky 6-foot-5 frame. The Nats want him to focus on refining the better breaking ball and scrap the lazy sweeper. He also has the makings of a solid changeup, but it is inconsistent at this stage. His delivery has no major red flags, though he is a bit of a short strider with a low three-quarters slot. Pivetta has a lot to learn, but he has big league starter upside. He figures to spend the bulk of 2014 at low Class A Hagerstown.

Draft Prospects

Pivetta is a Canadian who spent time with the country's junior national team and went undrafted out of high school. He has blossomed at New Mexico JC and intrigues scouts with his 6-foot-5, 215-pound build and a fastball that has been clocked as high as 97 mph. As a starter, he pitches more in the 90-93 mph range. His slider and changeup show flashes of being above-average but have been inconsistent this spring. Pivetta has some funk to his delivery, as he's a bit of a short strider with a low three-quarters arm slot. A team will take a chance on Pivetta around the fifth round because he's seen as a fresh arm with potential. He has committed to New Mexico.

Minor League Top Prospects

A physical, 6-foot-5 righthander from British Columbia, Pivetta pitched effectively at Potomac through early July, but a promotion to Double-A Harrisburg and subsequent trade to the Phillies (for Jonathan Papelbon) resulted in a 7.27 ERA, with the poor peripherals to match, in 10 starts. Pivetta begins his four-pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball that has tremendous sink and downhill plane. He couples it with a high-70s curveball and a low-80s slider, the latter of which ranks as the better breaker. He also throws a changeup that shows fade and sink but lacks consistency. Pivetta's frame will allow him to stay in the rotation as he develops, but he also has the potential as an impact reliever as well, especially if his changeup and control do not improve.

Career Transactions

RHP Nick Pivetta elected free agency.
Boston Red Sox activated RHP Nick Pivetta from the 15-day injured list.
Boston Red Sox sent RHP Nick Pivetta on a rehab assignment to Worcester Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox placed RHP Nick Pivetta on the 15-day injured list retroactive to April 6, 2024. Right elbow flexor strain.
Canada activated RHP Nick Pivetta.