Nick did not play affiliated ball until he was 25, when he signed in August 2015…he pitched parts of three years (2012-13, 2015) in independent ball (Rockford RiverHawks, Rockford Aviators, Frontier Greys) and played for the TriCity (Minn.) Hawks, a men's baseball league in 2014 while he helped a friend remodel houses...Nick broke his nose in elementary school after he was tripped by a classmate while running and collided with a brick wall...He didn't play organized football from 9th-11th grade, but suited up as a senior at outside linebacker and kicker…his preferred kicking style was straight-toed and he wore square-toe cleats...As a kid, Nick competed at BMX and keeps the trophies at his dad's house…his love of extreme sports also includes snowmobiling.
2019
Spent the entire season in the majors, split between the Marlins and Rays organizations… acquired by the Rays in a four-player deal just minutes before the July 31 trade deadline...His 110 SO (in 65 IP) tied BOS Matt Barnes for 3rd-most in the majors as a reliever, trailing MIL Josh Hader (138) and OAK Liam Hendriks (122)… his 110 SO in relief was 8th all-time by a rookie- among those above him on the list are ATL Craig Kimbrel (127) in 2011, ATL Steve Bedrosian (114) in 1982 and LAD Pedro Martínez (113) in 1993...His 15.23 SO/9 IP ratio was the 3rd-highest mark in major league history by a qualifying rookie reliever, behind LAD Kenley Jansen (16.10) in 2011 and SEA Edwin Díaz (15.33) in 2016...Between the Marlins and Rays, struck out 41.7 pct. of batters faced, 2nd-best in the majors (min. 50 IP) behind MIL Josh Hader (47.8)...Made the Marlins roster out of spring training and made his major league debut on Opening Day vs. COL, retiring his only batter…earned his first win on May 21 at DET, working a scoreless 10th and 11th innings in a 5-4 victory, with 5 SO…earned his first save on June 23 at PHI...Beginning on Aug 1-the date of his Rays debut- through the end of the season, he led the majors (min. 20 IP) with a 17.30 SO/9 IP ratio...Made 23 apps after the trade to the Rays, recording 41 SO and only 2 BB (1 IBB)…recorded 34 SO before allowing his first walk, the 2nd-longest streak of strikeouts without a walk in franchise history behind Chris Archer (43) from May 27- June 13, 2015…since Stats LLC play-by-play data is available (1974), his streak was the longest to begin a career with a team, passing Billy Wagner (30) with the 2004 Phillies...Began his Rays career with 10 consecutive scoreless apps but pitched to a 3.86 ERA (11.2-IP, 5-ER) in his last 13 apps…went 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA (44-IP, 11-ER) and 71 SO (14.52 SO/9 IP) in 47 apps from May 27 through season's end...Recorded at least 1 SO in 21 of his 23 apps with the Rays, including multiple strikeouts in 14 of 23 apps and 3 SO (or more) in five of 23 apps...After allowing a double to his first batter faced as a Ray, retired 22 straight, including 17 SO… was the first reliever to start his Rays career with seven consecutive apps of multiple strikeouts...Starting with his second out on Aug 6 vs. TOR through his third out on Aug 17 vs. DET, struck out 13 of 14 BF including nine consecutive batters at one point, one shy of the major league record set by NYM Tom Seaver in 1970...Named to Baseball America's All-Rookie Team, the only reliever selected…became the first Rays pitcher selected since Jeremy Hellickson in 2011 and the first Rays reliever to make it...Named the 2019 Dick Siebert Award winner by the Minnesota Chapter of the BBWAA…the award is named for the former University of Minnesota coach and presented annually to the Upper Midwest Player of the Year…it was awarded previously to Jeremy Hellickson, an Iowa native.
2018
Spent season with Triple-A Rochester in International League and earned first career All-Star selection...Went 5-2 with 3.38 ERA (40.0 IP/15 ER) in 26 relief appearance prior to All-Star break, striking out 57 batters and holding opponents to .214 average. Also had four saves in six chances...Was 3-0 with 3.15 ERA (20.0/7) in 13 appearances (four starts) after All-Star break...His four starts totaled just 4.0 innings, with 9.00 ERA (4 er)...Longest start was 1.2 innings on August 3 at Pawtucket...Was 3-0 with 1.69 ERA (16.0/3) in his nine relief appearances in second half...18 of 25 relief appearances lasted at least 2.0 innings, with a high of 3.0 in a relief victory on May 29 at Durham...Picked up relief win in each of final two appearances of the season, on Aug. 28 vs. Buffalo and September 2 vs. Lehigh Valley; tied season high with four strikeouts (fifth time) vs. Buffalo and set new season high with five in finale vs. Lehigh Valley.
