Kyle Nicolas

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #13 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Nicolas showcased plenty of high-octane stuff as an amateur, but really began shooting up draft boards when he started throwing more strikes during his junior year at Ball State. The Marlins popped him with their second-round pick, then traded him to the Pirates with outfielder Connor Scott in exchange for catcher Jacob Stallings. He made his big league debut on Sept. 19 and got into four games.
  
  Scouting Report: Nicolas is a big, strong righthander with stuff as powerful as his build would suggest. As a starter, he worked with a full four-pitch complement that included four- and two-seam fastballs, a pair of breaking balls and a changeup. After shifting to a relief role, that mix winnowed to a combination predicated upon his four-seamer and slider with an occasional curveball. His fastball averaged 97 mph, while his slider came in around 90 mph. His pitch mix plays up because of extension close to 7 feet. Now, he needs to throw more strikes. The Pirates believe the move to the bullpen will increase his margin for error and will allow him to have a more aggressive mindset. Doing so, they believe, will also help him get more swings and misses. Nicolas is a hard worker who loves to challenge hitters so the move into a relief role could be for the best.
  
  The Future: Nicolas is likely a reliever only from now on. If he can improve his strike-throwing, he could be a weapon at the end of games.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 60 | Control: 40
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #14 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Nicolas pitched his way up draft boards in 2020 by substantially cutting his walk rate while maintaining premium stuff in a small sample size at Ball State. The Marlins drafted him No. 61 overall that summer, then traded him to the Pirates for C Jacob Stallings just over a year later. Nicolas spent all of 2022 at Double-A Altoona, striking out 25.9% of batters but also walking 12.1% in 90.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Nicolas has plenty of firepower, but he needs to harness it more consistently to remain a starter. His 93-95 mph fastball touches 97 and is his best pitch. The heater has elite carry, averaging nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break, and he shows the ability to add and subtract velocity as needed. Nicolas' mid-80s slider dives out of the zone and has become a plus pitch. Nicolas' low-80s curveball is a bit softer, thrown with 11-5 break, and he also dabbles with a firm upper-80s changeup that lags behind his other three offerings. Internal and external evaluators alike note there are mechanical inconsistencies in Nicolas' delivery that require attention and currently hinder his strike-throwing. He showed marginal improvements early in 2022, but walked 28 batters over his final 44.1 innings.
  
  The Future: The Pirates believe Nicolas is on the verge of a breakout if they can clean up his delivery. His powerful pitch mix could play up in a big league bullpen if he can't find more strikes.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #29 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Nicolas’ strikeout and walk rates improved at Ball State in the brief 2020 season, leading to the Marlins to draft him with the 61st overall pick. He spent his first year as a pro between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola. The Pirates acquired him with Connor Scott in a deal for catcher Jacob Stallings in November.
  
  Scouting Report: Nicolas’ pure stuff is excellent. His mix is fronted by a four-seam fastball that averages 94 mph and has touched as high as 98. The pitch gets swings and misses thanks to its spin rate, horizontal break and vertical approach angle. Nicolas backs his fastball with a trio of a low-80s curveball, a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup, with the curveball being thrown the most frequently. None of his offspeed pitches jumps off the page for anything but velocity, though both breaking balls get swings and misses at above-average or better rates. The changeup needs the most work, and its development was a focal point throughout the year.
  
  The Future: Nicolas has the body and arm of a power pitcher, but in his first test as a pro did not show the control or command required to start. If that doesn’t improve, he’s likely bound for a bullpen role.
  
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #17 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The nephew of former NFL quarterback Todd Blackledge, Nicolas averaged 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings in four starts during his final season at Ball State before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the college season. The Marlins drafted him with the 61st overall pick and signed him for $1,129,700. Nicolas made his Marlins debut in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Nicolas was one of the hardest throwers in the 2020 draft, with a plus-plus fastball that sits 96 mph and frequently touches 100 mph. Nicolas has a deceptive, above-average slider that can sometimes touch 90 mph, but there are concerns that he'll be nothing more than a high-leverage reliever unless he can continue to develop his curveball or changeup. Both are fringy to below average offerings, at best. He has the average control to remain a starter if he can find that third offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: Scouts are split whether Nicolas projects as a starter or reliever. His pro debut in 2021 will be telling.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #68 prospect in 2020 draft
  A 6-foot-4, 220-pound righty out of Ball State, Nicolas showed premium stuff last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he reached 97 mph with his fastball and started improving his breaking ball. Strike-throwing was always a concern with Nicolas, however, and he was erratic with Cotuit in spite of his improved stuff. In 24.1 innings he struck out 31 batters, but he walked 21. After working with first-year Ball State pitching coach Larry Scully in the fall, scouts saw much improved control in Nicolas’ four starts before the 2020 season ended. In 23 innings, Nicolas walked just seven batters (2.74 per nine), which is easily the best walk rate of his collegiate career, and he fanned 37—also a career-high 14.5 per nine rate. Scouts have said Nicolas simplified his delivery and shortened his stride to get the ball in the zone more frequently during his junior season, which has allowed him to have much more success with a fastball that’s regularly in the 93-96 mph range. He pairs that with a slider in the 85-87 mph range, with solid downward bite. The breaking ball has above-average potential, but Nicolas is still developing a feel for the offering. He’s also shown a changeup, but that’s a distant third pitch to his fastball/slider combination. There are starter/reliever questions with Nicolas thanks to his strike-throwing track record, but he has big stuff, a big frame and some aptitude to make the necessary adjustments.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Nicolas pitched his way up draft boards in 2020 by substantially cutting his walk rate while maintaining premium stuff in a small sample size at Ball State. The Marlins drafted him No. 61 overall that summer, then traded him to the Pirates for C Jacob Stallings just over a year later. Nicolas spent all of 2022 at Double-A Altoona, striking out 25.9% of batters but also walking 12.1% in 90.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Nicolas has plenty of firepower, but he needs to harness it more consistently to remain a starter. His 93-95 mph fastball touches 97 and is his best pitch. The heater has elite carry, averaging nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break, and he shows the ability to add and subtract velocity as needed. Nicolas' mid-80s slider dives out of the zone and has become a plus pitch. Nicolas' low-80s curveball is a bit softer, thrown with 11-5 break, and he also dabbles with a firm upper-80s changeup that lags behind his other three offerings. Internal and external evaluators alike note there are mechanical inconsistencies in Nicolas' delivery that require attention and currently hinder his strike-throwing. He showed marginal improvements early in 2022, but walked 28 batters over his final 44.1 innings.
  
  The Future: The Pirates believe Nicolas is on the verge of a breakout if they can clean up his delivery. His powerful pitch mix could play up in a big league bullpen if he can't find more strikes.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Nicolas pitched his way up draft boards in 2020 by substantially cutting his walk rate while maintaining premium stuff in a small sample size at Ball State. The Marlins drafted him No. 61 overall that summer, then traded him to the Pirates for C Jacob Stallings just over a year later. Nicolas spent all of 2022 at Double-A Altoona, striking out 25.9% of batters but also walking 12.1% in 90.2 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Nicolas has plenty of firepower, but he needs to harness it more consistently to remain a starter. His 93-95 mph fastball touches 97 and is his best pitch. The heater has elite carry, averaging nearly 20 inches of induced vertical break, and he shows the ability to add and subtract velocity as needed. Nicolas' mid-80s slider dives out of the zone and has become a plus pitch. Nicolas' low-80s curveball is a bit softer, thrown with 11-5 break, and he also dabbles with a firm upper-80s changeup that lags behind his other three offerings. Internal and external evaluators alike note there are mechanical inconsistencies in Nicolas' delivery that require attention and currently hinder his strike-throwing. He showed marginal improvements early in 2022, but walked 28 batters over his final 44.1 innings.
  
  The Future: The Pirates believe Nicolas is on the verge of a breakout if they can clean up his delivery. His powerful pitch mix could play up in a big league bullpen if he can't find more strikes.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Nicolas&#39 strikeout and walk rates improved at Ball State in the brief 2020 season, leading to the Marlins to draft him with the 61st overall pick. He spent his first year as a pro between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola. The Pirates acquired him with Connor Scott in a deal for catcher Jacob Stallings in November.
  
  Scouting Report: Nicolas&#39 pure stuff is excellent. His mix is fronted by a four-seam fastball that averages 94 mph and has touched as high as 98. The pitch gets swings and misses thanks to its spin rate, horizontal break and vertical approach angle. Nicolas backs his fastball with a trio of a low-80s curveball, a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup, with the curveball being thrown the most frequently. None of his offspeed pitches jumps off the page for anything but velocity, though both breaking balls get swings and misses at above-average or better rates. The changeup needs the most work, and its development was a focal point throughout the year.
  
  The Future: Nicolas has the body and arm of a power pitcher, but in his first test as a pro did not show the control or command required to start. If that doesn&#39t improve, he&#39s likely bound for a bullpen role.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Nicolas’ strikeout and walk rates improved at Ball State in the brief 2020 season, leading to the Marlins to draft him with the 61st overall pick. He spent his first year as a pro between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola. The Pirates acquired him with Connor Scott in a deal for catcher Jacob Stallings in November.
  
  Scouting Report: Nicolas’ pure stuff is excellent. His mix is fronted by a four-seam fastball that averages 94 mph and has touched as high as 98. The pitch gets swings and misses thanks to its spin rate, horizontal break and vertical approach angle. Nicolas backs his fastball with a trio of a low-80s curveball, a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup, with the curveball being thrown the most frequently. None of his offspeed pitches jumps off the page for anything but velocity, though both breaking balls get swings and misses at above-average or better rates. The changeup needs the most work, and its development was a focal point throughout the year.
  
  The Future: Nicolas has the body and arm of a power pitcher, but in his first test as a pro did not show the control or command required to start. If that doesn’t improve, he’s likely bound for a bullpen role.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The nephew of former NFL quarterback Todd Blackledge, Nicolas averaged 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings in four starts during his final season at Ball State before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the college season. The Marlins drafted him with the 61st overall pick and signed him for $1,129,700. Nicolas made his Marlins debut in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Nicolas was one of the hardest throwers in the 2020 draft, with a plus-plus fastball that sits 96 mph and frequently touches 100 mph. Nicolas has a deceptive, above-average slider that can sometimes touch 90 mph, but there are concerns that he'll be nothing more than a high-leverage reliever unless he can continue to develop his curveball or changeup. Both are fringy to below average offerings, at best. He has the average control to remain a starter if he can find that third offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: Scouts are split whether Nicolas projects as a starter or reliever. His pro debut in 2021 will be telling.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The nephew of former NFL quarterback Todd Blackledge, Nicolas averaged 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings in four starts during his final season at Ball State before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the college season. The Marlins drafted him with the 61st overall pick and signed him for $1,129,700. Nicolas made his Marlins debut in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Nicolas was one of the hardest throwers in the 2020 draft, with a plus-plus fastball that sits 96 mph and frequently touches 100 mph. Nicolas has a deceptive, above-average slider that can sometimes touch 90 mph, but there are concerns that he'll be nothing more than a high-leverage reliever unless he can continue to develop his curveball or changeup. Both are fringy to below average offerings, at best. He has the average control to remain a starter if he can find that third offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: Scouts are split whether Nicolas projects as a starter or reliever. His pro debut in 2021 will be telling.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The nephew of former NFL quarterback Todd Blackledge, Nicolas averaged 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings in four starts during his final season at Ball State before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the college season. The Marlins drafted him with the 61st overall pick and signed him for $1,129,700. Nicolas made his Marlins debut in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Nicolas was one of the hardest throwers in the 2020 draft, with a plus-plus fastball that sits 96 mph and frequently touches 100 mph. Nicolas has a deceptive, above-average slider that can sometimes touch 90 mph, but there are concerns that he'll be nothing more than a high-leverage reliever unless he can continue to develop his curveball or changeup. Both are fringy to below average offerings, at best. He has the average control to remain a starter if he can find that third offering.
  
  THE FUTURE: Scouts are split whether Nicolas projects as a starter or reliever. His pro debut in 2021 will be telling.