Brett James Nicholas…is married to Rachel and they have a son, Walker Frank (11/13/16)… played collegiately at Missouri, Gonzaga, and Scottsdale Community College…began his college career at Gonzaga, appearing in 29 games for the Bulldogs during his freshman campaign…as a junior at Missouri, batted .352 (74-210) with 12 homers, 15 doubles and a team-leading 64 RBI, 3rd-most in the Big 12 Conference…put together a 19-game hit streak during junior season from April 3-May 4, longest by any Missouri player since current Rangers assistant GM Jayce Tingler had a 24- game stretch in 2002…entered draft rated by Baseball America as the 5th-best prospect in the state of Missouri…was named to the academic honor roll all 4 years at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix…was a 2-time first team all-state selection, finishing with a .450 career average, 17 HR and 108 RBI…participated in the Texas Rangers 2018 winter caravan.
2017
Had 21 games/16 starts with the Rangers going 7-9 in his starts behind the plate…on disabled list, 4/2-27, with torn meniscus in left knee…underwent arthroscopic surgery for torn medial meniscus in his left knee performed by Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington on 3/10…reinstated from DL on 4/28 and was optioned to Round Rock…recalled by Texas on 7/24 and spent the remainder of the season in the big leagues… went 0-for-5 in 1st 2 games before batting .341/.372/.585/.957 (14- 41) over next 13 games/11 starts…had home run and 3 RBI in 2 straight, 8/12 vs. HOU and 8/17 vs. CWS…was 1-for-17 over final 6 games/4 starts…became 12th position player to pitch for Texas, 14th overall instance on 7/26 vs. MIA (1.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R-ER).
TEXAS // Was recalled from Round Rock on 7/24 in conjunction with the placement of Tyson Ross on the disabled list…made 2017 debut as a pitcher in the 9th inning on 7/26 vs. MIA…became the 12th position player to appear on the mound in Texas history, 1st since Jared Hoying on 7/7/16 vs. MIN…was 14th instance of a position player pitching in team history…logged 1st at-bat of 2017 as a defensive replacement on 7/30 vs. BAL, the same game that Adrian Beltre notched career hit no. 3,000… following the trade of Jonathan Lucroy later that night, Nicholas split time with Robinson Chirinos at catcher for the balance of the season…homered and matched career high with 3 RBI in backto-back starts on 8/12 vs. HOU and 8/17 vs. CWS…performance on 8/17 vs. CWS completed a .375 (6-16) stretch in which he hit safely in 4 straight starts with one double, 2 home runs, and 6 RBI…with Chirinos battling a hamstring strain late in the year, Nicholas started 4 of club's final 5 games after being eliminated from postseason contention…went 1-for-17 over final 6 games/4 starts to lower average from .304 to .238…Rangers went 7-9 in his starts at catcher…no errors in 113 chances…did not throw out an attempted base stealer in 10 attempts.
ROUND ROCK // Posted .311/.353/.469/.822 (85-273) slash in 69 games at Round Rock…named a Pacific Coast League mid-season All-Star for a 2nd consecutive season…ranked 2nd on the club in average at the time of promotion to Texas…joined the club on 4/24 following recovery from knee surgery…made 68 starts at catcher (43), DH (15), first base (8), and third base (2)... threw out 12 of 38 (31.6%) attempted base stealers with .994 (2 E/323 TC) fielding pct. behind the plate…batted .312 (24-77) with RISP…registered 27 multi-hit games and recorded a season best 8-game hitting streak from 5/16-26 at .389 (14-36).
2016
Batted .250 (9-36) with 2 HR and 4 RBI over 12 games with Texas last season in his 1st major league action…made his ML debut in April after 6 seasons in the Texas farm system… had 2 stints with the Rangers: 4/10-5/3 and 9/2-end of season.
2015
Had a teamhigh 63 RBI and also ranked among Round Rock club leaders in total bases (2nd, 166), doubles (4th, 22), HR (T4th, 12), and runs (5th, 49)…made starts at catcher (48), 1st base (45), and DH (14) for the Express…threw out 15 of 55 (27.3%) would-be basestealers…hit .291 (83-285) with 9 HR and 45 RBI in 78 G from 5/1-8/8…tied for team lead with 5 RBI in postseason… batted .195 (8-41) over 17 G with Estrellas in the Dominican Winter League.
2014
Ranked among the Express club leaders in hits (2nd, 124), RBI (3rd, 58), and doubles (4th, 20)…threw out 18 of 79 (22.8%) would-be basestealers, while compiling a .992 fielding percentage (5 E/633 TC).
2013
Led the Texas League in RBI (91), hits (146), and games played (136), while also ranking among the league
leaders in batting (4th, .289), home runs (7th, 21), runs (7th, 71), and SLG (8th, .474) for Frisco (AA)…was a member of the TL South Division All-Star team and the TL Postseason All-Star team…appeared in 115 games at first base, 14 games behind the plate, and 7 more as the designated hitter…compiled a .992 fielding percentage (1 E/120 TC) at catcher and threw out 6 of 17 (35.3%) attempted base stealers…batted .303 (119-393) with 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 20 home runs against right-handed pitchers and .239 (27-113) with 7 doubles and a home run versus southpaws…hit .326 (43-132) with RISP…batted .258 (23-89) over his first 24 games with the 'Riders…was named the organization's Minor League Defender of the Month for May, starting 24 games at first base and 3 games behind the plate with just one error…hit .332 (84-253) with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 13 home runs, and 45 RBI over a 68-game stretch from May 1-July 17, raising average to a season-high .313…posted a .238 average (39-164) over his final 44 contests.
2012
Spent full season with Myrtle Beach (High-A)…was not a member of the Pelicans' Opening Day roster, but led the club in batting (.285), doubles (33), and RBI (63)…ranked among the Carolina League leaders in doubles (T3rd), batting (8th), and RBI (T9th)…saw action at both catcher and first base…batted .307 (31-101) against southpaws and .278 (96-345) versus right-handed pitching…hit .325 (38-117) with RISP…batted .273 (59-216) with 2 home runs, 28 RBI, and 15 BB prior to the All-Star break and .296 (68-230) with 6 home runs, 35 RBI, and 29 BB following the break…hit .333 (3-9) with 3 walks during the Carolina League playoffs…appeared in 2 games with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, going 1-for-1 with a walk as a pinch-hitter.
2011
Split season between Spokane (Short-A) and Myrtle Beach….combined to bat .270 (63-233) with 22 doubles, 6 home runs, and 45 RBI over 66 games….played 63 of his 66 games with Spokane.…opened season with Myrtle Beach, appearing in 3 games…transferred back to extended spring training on May 25 before joining Spokane for the start of its campaign…saw time at both catcher and first base…led the club in both RBI (45) and doubles (21), while sharing the club lead in home runs (6)…batted .326 (43-132) with 5 home runs and 33 RBI over first 35 games and .206 (19-92) with 1 home run and 12 RBI over final 28 contests.
2010
Split first professional season between AZL Rangers (Rookie) and Spokane…combined to bat .242 (48-198) with 3 home runs and 35 RBI in 54 games…began season with AZL Rangers…doubled and drove in 3 runs
in final game with AZL Rangers on June 25 vs. AZL Dodgers…promoted to Spokane June 26…batted .317 (19-60) with runners in scoring position and .440 (11-25) with runners in scoring position and 2 outs…hit grand slam on Aug. 23 vs. Eugene.
