Tommy Nance Bio
Thomas Andrew Nance (born March 19, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Nance has worked primarily as a relief pitcher during his major league tenure and has played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs and the Miami Marlins, advancing from independent ball and the minor leagues to reach the majors.
Early Life and Background
Nance attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, where he played high school baseball and dealt with a stress fracture in his lower back. After high school he continued his amateur career across multiple colleges, appearing for Long Beach State, Cypress College, and Santa Clara University.
Following his college career, Nance underwent Tommy John surgery after his senior year. Despite the surgery and going undrafted out of Santa Clara University in 2015, he pursued professional opportunities starting in independent baseball.
Path to Baseball
After going undrafted in 2015, Nance signed with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League and used independent ball as a stepping stone back into affiliated baseball. His work in the Frontier League drew attention from affiliated scouts and opened the door for a contract with a Major League organization the following winter.
On January 18, 2016, Nance’s contract was purchased by the Chicago Cubs organization. He spent the 2016 season across multiple Cubs affiliates as he moved through the organization’s developmental ladder, building innings and gaining experience at several minor league levels.
Tommy Nance Career
Early Career (2015–2020)
Nance began his professional career in 2015 with the Windy City Thunderbolts, appearing in 29 games and recording a 1–1 record with a 4.74 ERA, 40 strikeouts in 38 innings, and a 1.421 WHIP. The following year, after signing with the Chicago Cubs, he split 2016 among Low-A Eugene, Single-A South Bend, High-A Myrtle Beach, and Triple-A Iowa, finishing that stretch with a combined 4–1 record and a 2.58 ERA in 22 games.
In 2017 Nance did not play because of a diagnosed nerve injury in his shoulder. He returned to action in 2018 at Double-A Tennessee, where he posted a 3.48 ERA in 15 appearances, and spent 2019 between Tennessee and Myrtle Beach, compiling a 2–5 record with a 4.07 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 48.2 innings. The 2020 minor league season was canceled, and Nance did not play that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MLB Breakthrough (2021)
Nance began 2021 in Triple-A Iowa and on May 9, 2021, he took the mound in a seven-inning combined no-hitter for Iowa, pitching the fourth through sixth innings and striking out five. A week later, after posting a 1.50 ERA in three games for Iowa, Nance was added to the Cubs’ 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time on May 16, 2021.
He made his Major League debut on May 17, 2021, with the Chicago Cubs, throwing a scoreless inning of relief and recording his first big-league strikeout against Washington Nationals infielder Josh Harrison. On June 11, 2021, Nance recorded his first MLB victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. For the 2021 season with the Cubs, he appeared in 27 games and logged 28.2 innings.
Miami Marlins Tenure (2022–2023)
On March 27, 2022, Nance was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins. He made 35 appearances for Miami in 2022, posting a 2–3 record and a 4.33 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 43 and two-thirds innings pitched. The 2022 season marked his most extensive major league workload to date.
In February 2023, Nance suffered a right shoulder strain that sidelined him to begin the regular season. He was placed on the 60-day injured list in April while recovering and was later activated on August 23, 2023. A subsequent placement on the 60-day injured list in September ended his year without another appearance for the club, and he was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to Triple-A Jacksonville in November 2023 before electing free agency that same day.
San Diego Padres & Triple-A (2024)
On December 10, 2023, Nance signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. He opened 2024 at Triple-A El Paso, where across 26 appearances he posted a 4.05 ERA with 35 strikeouts and two saves in 33 and one-third innings of relief, demonstrating the ability to work multiple innings and to contribute in late-inning situations.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2024–Present)
On August 7, 2024, Nance was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations, and Toronto selected his contract the following day, adding him to the active roster. In 2024 he made 20 appearances for the Blue Jays, compiling an 0–3 record and a 4.09 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 22 innings of work.
Following roster moves in early 2025, Nance was designated for assignment by Toronto on March 27, 2025, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo on March 30, 2025. He made 27 appearances for Buffalo that season, recording an 0–4 record and a 4.60 ERA with 42 strikeouts and four saves in 31 and one-third innings, and Toronto selected his contract again on July 11, 2025. On March 22, 2026, Nance was named among the final relief pitchers to start the season on the Blue Jays’ active roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nance has built his career as a relief pitcher able to provide multi-inning outings out of the bullpen and to generate strikeouts when needed. His path through independent ball and multiple minor league levels demonstrates adaptability and a readiness to assume varied relief roles across a major league bullpen.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Nance’s career include the combined no-hitter with Triple-A Iowa on May 9, 2021, his Major League debut and first strikeout on May 17, 2021, and his first MLB victory on June 11, 2021. His recovery from shoulder injuries and his returns to affiliated rosters mark notable resilience during his professional career.
Tommy Nance Career Wins
Across his major league career through June 30, 2026, Nance’s MLB record stands at 6–9 with a 4.18 earned run average and 171 strikeouts. Those totals reflect his cumulative work as a reliever at the major league level since his debut in 2021.
MLB Highlights
Nance’s first major league win came in June 2021 while with the Chicago Cubs. His time with the Miami Marlins in 2022 provided his heaviest usage in one season at the MLB level, yielding 57 strikeouts in 43 and two-thirds innings. Across stints with Chicago, Miami, and Toronto, he has been used primarily in relief and has accumulated opportunities in middle and late-inning situations.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Before reaching affiliated baseball, Nance’s 2015 season with the Windy City Thunderbolts established him in professional baseball, recording 40 strikeouts in 38 innings. In the minors, highlights include the combined no-hitter for Triple-A Iowa in 2021 and steady strikeout production during extended relief appearances at Triple-A El Paso and Triple-A Buffalo.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season for Nance was primarily a Triple-A campaign with the Buffalo Bisons after being designated for assignment by Toronto in late March. He appeared in 27 games for Buffalo, logging four saves, 42 strikeouts, and a 4.60 ERA across 31 and one-third innings, performances that contributed to Toronto recalling him to the active roster in July 2025.
Nance’s 2025 season illustrated a role as an organizational depth reliever who can be relied upon for multi-inning work in Triple-A and as a call-up option for the major league bullpen. His midseason recall and later inclusion on the Blue Jays’ roster entering 2026 reflect a continued place in Toronto’s relief plans.