Nick Raquet Bio
Nick Raquet (born December 12, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. Raquet rose through the college and minor league ranks, returned to professional baseball via independent ball in 2023, and made his MLB debut in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Raquet attended State College Area High School in State College, Pennsylvania, where he played high school baseball before enrolling in college. He began his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later transferred to the College of William & Mary to continue his development and play for the William & Mary Tribe baseball program.
Born on December 12, 1995, Raquet pursued both athletics and academics through his college years. After being drafted, he progressed through professional development programs while completing his education before a temporary pause in his baseball career.
Path to Baseball
The Washington Nationals selected Nick Raquet in the third round, with the 103rd overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. Following the draft, Raquet moved into the Nationals’ minor league system and continued working through the organization’s development pipeline.
After the 2019 regular season Raquet pitched in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros. The cancellation of the 2020 Minor League Baseball season and the resulting disruptions led Raquet to step away from professional baseball for a period to finish his degree and pursue work outside the game.
Nick Raquet Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Following the 2017 draft, Raquet spent time in the Washington Nationals’ minor league system and gained experience against advanced competition. In the Arizona Fall League after the 2019 season he posted a challenging 8.49 earned run average, a stint that nevertheless gave him exposure to top prospect competition and additional innings against major league prospects.
With the 2020 minor league season canceled, Raquet stepped away from full‑time professional baseball. During that break he returned to college to complete his degree and worked as an enterprise risk consultant for Ernst & Young, maintaining ties to the sport while pursuing professional and academic priorities.
Atlantic League Return and York Revolution (2023)
Raquet returned to professional baseball in 2023 with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League, an independent professional league. His performance with York drew notice across independent and affiliated circles and helped reestablish him as a professional pitcher after his hiatus.
In recognition of his work in the Atlantic League, Raquet and teammate Zach Mort were named co‑Pitcher of the Year for the York Revolution, a distinction that highlighted his effectiveness and helped reopen doors to affiliated baseball opportunities.
St. Louis Cardinals Breakthrough (2024–Present)
On January 16, 2024, Nick Raquet signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. During the 2024 season he made 35 appearances, including six starts across Double‑A Springfield and Triple‑A Memphis, compiling a 2–9 record with a 4.80 ERA and recording 73 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings pitched while working within the Cardinals’ minor league system.
The Cardinals released Raquet on September 26, 2024, and he subsequently re‑signed with the Cardinals organization on a minor league contract on January 15, 2025. In 2025 he transitioned largely to a relief role and produced stronger results across Double‑A Springfield and Triple‑A Memphis, registering a combined 10–4 record with a 2.24 ERA, 60 strikeouts and eight saves in 52 1/3 innings over 39 relief appearances.
On September 8, 2025, Raquet was selected to the Cardinals’ 40‑man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that night against the Seattle Mariners, working one inning, and finished his rookie campaign with two scoreless appearances and one strikeout across two innings of work for St. Louis.
Pitching Style and Strengths
In recent seasons Raquet has been used primarily in relief roles, where he demonstrated the ability to finish games and record saves at the Triple‑A level. His 2025 minor league numbers reflected an uptick in strikeout rate and run prevention, and his role as a late‑inning option produced multiple saves and a winning record in relief appearances.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Raquet’s career include his third‑round selection in the 2017 MLB draft, participation in the Arizona Fall League after 2019, a professional hiatus during the pandemic while completing his degree and working in consulting, his 2023 Atlantic League co‑Pitcher of the Year honor with York Revolution, and his MLB promotion and debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in September 2025.
Nick Raquet Career Wins
Across verified professional seasons, Raquet compiled notable win totals in the minor leagues and independent ball. He recorded a 2–9 record in 2024 while working between Double‑A and Triple‑A and posted a combined 10–4 record in 2025 in relief and late‑inning roles for Springfield and Memphis, figures that helped lead to his major league promotion.
Minor League and Triple‑A Highlights
Raquet’s 2024 campaign included 35 appearances with six starts and 73 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings, demonstrating his durability and willingness to work in multiple roles. In 2025 his move to a relief profile produced a lower ERA, eight saves and a stronger strikeout rate, helping him to a combined 10‑4 ledger that season across Double‑A and Triple‑A.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In independent ball with the York Revolution in 2023, Raquet’s standout performances earned him co‑Pitcher of the Year recognition, a turning point that led back to affiliated opportunities and ultimately to the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Nick Raquet Family
Personal Life
Publicly available records note Raquet’s academic and professional choices during his time away from baseball, including completing his college degree and working as an enterprise risk consultant for Ernst & Young. These steps reflected a focus on both education and career preparedness while he kept the door open to return to professional baseball.
Beyond his baseball résumé, Raquet’s documented path emphasizes college baseball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at the College of William & Mary, followed by the combination of minor league development, independent league success, and a return to affiliated baseball that culminated in his major league debut.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season served as a breakthrough year for Raquet. After re‑signing with the Cardinals on a minor league deal in January, he established himself as a reliable relief option across Double‑A Springfield and Triple‑A Memphis, posting a combined 10‑4 record, a 2.24 ERA, 60 strikeouts and eight saves in 52 1/3 innings across 39 appearances. That performance placed him on the Cardinals’ 40‑man roster and earned a September promotion to the major leagues.
Raquet made his major league debut on September 8, 2025, and finished the season with two scoreless appearances and one strikeout across two innings for St. Louis. Entering the next season he projects as a depth option out of the bullpen with experience at multiple levels, late‑inning work in Triple‑A, and the experience of a major league call‑up to build on in his continuing professional career.