Nicholas Frank Lodolo is an American professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). The left-hander was selected seventh overall by the Reds in the 2019 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in April 2022. Nick Lodolo has competed at the highest level of professional baseball while battling various injuries throughout his early career, establishing himself as a key part of the Reds starting rotation.
Nick Lodolo Bio
Nicholas Frank Lodolo was born on February 5, 1998. He grew up in Southern California and attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, where he developed into one of the top high school pitchers in the country. His performance on the mound caught the attention of major league scouts, leading to his selection in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 41st overall pick. Rather than signing, Lodolo chose to attend Texas Christian University to further develop his skills and play for the TCU Horned Frogs.
Early Life and Background
Lodolo attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, and established himself as an elite high school pitcher. As a senior, he compiled an 8-2 win-loss record with a 1.97 earned run average, striking out 83 batters in 65 innings pitched. His dominant performance made him one of the most sought-after prospects in the country entering the 2016 MLB Draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Despite being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 41st overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, Lodolo did not sign and instead honored his commitment to Texas Christian University. At TCU, he became a three-year starter for the Horned Frogs and developed into one of college baseball most dominant pitchers.
Nick Lodolo Career
College Career at TCU (2017-2019)
As a freshman in 2017, Lodolo appeared in 17 games with 15 starts and compiled a 5-1 record with a 4.35 ERA. He earned spots on the All-Big 12 Second Team and the All-Freshman Team. In his sophomore season in 2018, he went 7-4 with a 4.32 ERA, striking out 93 batters in 77 innings over 16 appearances with 15 starts. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors for the second consecutive year.
Prior to his junior season, Lodolo was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. He responded with his best college season, finishing 6-6 with a 2.36 ERA while striking out 131 batters in 103 innings. His dominant performance earned him All-Big 12 First Team honors. Across his three seasons at TCU, Lodolo compiled an 18-11 record with a 3.55 ERA and 296 strikeouts in 258.2 innings pitched.
Minor Leagues (2019-2021)
Lodolo entered the 2019 MLB Draft as one of the top prospects available. The Cincinnati Reds selected him with the seventh overall pick and signed him for $5.43 million. He was assigned to the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie Advanced Pioneer League, where he made six starts before earning a promotion to the Dayton Dragons of the Single-A Midwest League in July. After two starts with Dayton, Lodolo reached his innings limit and was shut down for the remainder of the year. Across eight minor league starts, he posted a 0-1 record with a 2.45 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing Lodolo from playing. In 2021, he was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to begin the season. Lodolo was named the leagues Player of the Month in May after compiling a 1.01 ERA with 38 strikeouts and a 0.83 WHIP over 26.2 innings. In June, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field. Over ten starts with the Lookouts, he went 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 44 innings. He was promoted to the Triple-A Louisville Bats in early August but was placed on the injured list in late August with a shoulder strain, ending his season. Over three starts with Louisville, he went 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
MLB Debut and Early Career (2022-2023)
On April 13, 2022, the Cincinnati Reds selected Lodolo contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting pitcher against the Cleveland Guardians. Over four innings, he allowed five earned runs on seven hits including two home runs, three walks, and four strikeouts, taking the loss as the Reds fell 7-3. After three starts, he was placed on the injured list with a back strain. In 2022, Lodolo started 19 games for the Reds and went 4-7 with a 3.66 ERA in 103.1 innings. He led the majors in hit batsmen with 19.
To begin the 2023 season, Lodolo made seven starts for the Reds, struggling to a 6.29 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 34.1 innings. On May 13, he was scratched from a scheduled start against the Miami Marlins with a lingering ankle and calf injury. An MRI of his left leg revealed a stress reaction in his tibia, and he was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 3. On August 31, it was announced that Lodolo would miss the remainder of the season.
Cincinnati Reds Rotation (2024-Present)
During the 2024 season, Lodolo was placed on the injured list four separate times with left calf tenosynovitis, a left groin strain, a left finger blister, and a sprained left middle finger. Despite the injuries, he still started 21 games for the Reds and posted a 9-8 record with a 4.76 ERA and 122 strikeouts over 115.1 innings.
Lodolo appeared in a career-high 29 games with 28 starts for the Reds in 2025. On July 23, 2025, he recorded his first career complete-game shutout against the Washington Nationals in a 5-0 victory. He was placed on the injured list once during the season, missing approximately three weeks in August with a left finger blister. Across 29 games, Lodolo had a 9-8 record with a 3.33 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 156.2 innings. He was tied for the major league lead in complete games and shutouts during that season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lodolo features a smooth delivery and repeatable mechanics that contribute to his command of the strike zone. He works quickly on the mound and shows poise in high-pressure situations. The left-hander demonstrates the ability to work deep into games when healthy, as evidenced by his complete-game shutout in 2025. His strikeout ability has remained consistent throughout his career, averaging over 150 punchouts per full healthy season. The biggest challenge for Lodolo throughout his early career has been staying healthy, as various injuries have interrupted his development and limited his availability.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lodolo achieved several significant milestones early in his MLB career. His first career complete-game shutout came against the Washington Nationals in July 2025, a 5-0 victory that demonstrated his potential as an elite starting pitcher. He has led the major leagues in hit batsmen and has ranked among league leaders in complete games and shutouts. His selection as the seventh overall pick in 2019 and his subsequent path through the minor leagues to MLB represented a rapid rise that placed him among the top prospects in baseball.
Nick Lodolo Career Wins
Through the start of the 2026 season, Nick Lodolo has accumulated 26 career wins across four major league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds spanning 2022 to early 2026. His career has been interrupted by multiple injuries, but he has demonstrated the ability to be a productive starting pitcher when healthy.
Cincinnati Reds Highlights
Across 131 major league appearances with 129 starts through June 23, 2026, Lodolo has compiled a 26-24 win-loss record with a 4.22 ERA and 494 strikeouts. His 2025 season represented a breakthrough, as he went 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 156.2 innings while leading the league in complete games and shutouts. His first career complete-game shutout came on July 23, 2025, against the Washington Nationals. In 2024, despite being placed on the injured list four times, he still managed to post a 9-8 record with 122 strikeouts in 115.1 innings.
Other Wins and Performances
In his rookie season of 2022, Lodolo went 4-7 with a 3.66 ERA in 19 starts, leading the majors with 19 hit batsmen. His professional career includes successful minor league seasons in 2021 with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, where he went 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 44 innings before his promotion to Triple-A Louisville.
| Series | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (2022-2026) | 26 | 24 | 4.22 | 494 |
Nick Lodolo Family
Family Background and Early Influences
Nick Lodolo grew up in Southern California, where he attended Damien High School in La Verne. His upbringing in the baseball-rich environment of Southern California provided him with opportunities to develop his skills from a young age. The decision to attend TCU rather than signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates after being drafted in 2016 demonstrated his commitment to his development as a pitcher.
Personal Life
Lodolo focuses primarily on his baseball career and maintains a professional approach to the sport. Born on February 5, 1998, he is an American citizen who has dedicated his life to professional baseball since being selected in the 2016 MLB Draft. His journey from Southern California high school prospect to major league starter represents a successful path through amateur and professional baseball.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Nick Lodolo most productive campaign in the major leagues. He appeared in a career-high 29 games with 28 starts for the Cincinnati Reds and established himself as a reliable workhorse in the starting rotation. His 9-8 record with a 3.33 ERA demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level when healthy.
His performance peaked in July 2025 when he recorded his first career complete-game shutout against the Washington Nationals in a dominant 5-0 victory. That achievement showed his potential to be an elite starting pitcher capable of dominating opposing lineups. He tied for the major league lead in complete games and shutouts during the season, highlighting his impact on the Reds rotation.
Lodolo missed approximately three weeks in August due to a left finger blister, his only significant injury of the season. That relative health allowed him to accumulate 156.2 innings pitched with 156 strikeouts, matching nearly one strikeout per inning. His success in 2025 positioned him as a key part of the Reds future rotation heading into the 2026 season.