Nick Lodolo Bio
Nicholas Frank Lodolo (born February 5, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starter, he made his MLB debut in 2022 after being selected seventh overall in the 2019 MLB Draft. Lodolo developed into one of the Reds’ most prominent young arms following a decorated amateur career at Texas Christian University (TCU).
Early Life and Background
Lodolo attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, where he pitched for the school’s baseball team. As a senior, he posted an 8–2 win-loss record with a 1.97 earned run average (ERA), striking out 83 batters across 65 innings pitched. His senior performance drew attention from Major League scouts, and the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him with the 41st overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft.
Rather than sign with Pittsburgh, Lodolo chose to honor his college commitment and enrolled at Texas Christian University. He spent three seasons with the TCU Horned Frogs, developing his craft against Big 12 Conference competition and emerging as one of college baseball’s most polished left-handed pitchers.
Path to Baseball
At TCU, Lodolo’s freshman year in 2017 produced a 5–1 record and a 4.35 ERA across 17 games, earning All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors. As a sophomore in 2018, he went 7–4 with a 4.32 ERA, striking out 93 batters in 77 innings, and he repeated as an All-Big 12 Second Team selection. He was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team ahead of his junior campaign.
Lodolo’s junior season in 2019 cemented his status as a top professional prospect. He finished 6–6 with a 2.36 ERA, striking out 131 batters in 103 innings, and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. Across his three college seasons, he compiled an 18–11 record with a 3.55 ERA in 258⅔ innings, recording 296 strikeouts. Following his junior year, the Cincinnati Reds selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Nick Lodolo Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Lodolo signed with the Reds for $5.43 million and was assigned to the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie Advanced Pioneer League. After six starts, he was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the Single-A Midwest League in July 2019. Following two starts with Dayton, the Reds reached his innings limit and shut him down for the remainder of the season. Over eight combined starts, he pitched to a 0–1 record with a 2.45 ERA, striking out 30 batters in 18⅓ innings.
The 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Lodolo did not appear in a game. He returned in 2021 with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A South, where he was named the league’s Player of the Month in May after posting a 1.01 ERA, 38 strikeouts, and a 0.83 WHIP over 26⅔ innings. He was later selected to the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field. Lodolo earned a midseason promotion to the Triple-A Louisville Bats before a shoulder strain ended his season. He finished 2021 with a combined 2–2 record and a 1.84 ERA in 13 minor league starts.
MLB Debut (2022)
On April 13, 2022, the Reds selected Lodolo’s contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting pitcher against the Cleveland Guardians, allowing five earned runs over four innings and taking the loss in a 7–3 defeat. After just three starts, he was placed on the injured list with a back strain. Lodolo returned to log 103⅓ innings during his rookie year, finishing 4–7 with a 3.66 ERA while leading the majors with 19 hit batsmen.
Setbacks and Recovery (2023)
Lodolo opened the 2023 season with the Reds but struggled to a 6.29 ERA across seven starts. On May 13, he was scratched from a scheduled outing against the Miami Marlins due to a lingering ankle and calf injury. An MRI later revealed a stress reaction in his left tibia, and he was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 3. The Reds announced on August 31 that he would miss the remainder of the 2023 season.
Return to Form (2024)
In 2024, Lodolo returned healthy and delivered a 9–8 record with a 4.76 ERA across 115⅓ innings, striking out 122 batters. He re-established himself as a fixture in the Cincinnati rotation and provided the innings depth the Reds needed from their young left-hander.
Career Defining Moment (2025)
On July 23, 2025, Lodolo recorded his first career complete-game shutout against the Washington Nationals in a 5–0 victory. The performance marked a career milestone and underlined his growing durability as a frontline starter.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lodolo works as a left-handed starting pitcher with a deep pitch mix, leaning on his slider and changeup to neutralize opposing lineups. His size, deception, and ability to generate swings and misses have made him a reliable strikeout arm. Pairing his swing-and-miss stuff with improved command has been central to his development at the major league level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lodolo’s defining moments include being drafted seventh overall in 2019, his MLB debut against Cleveland on April 13, 2022, and his first career complete-game shutout on July 23, 2025, against Washington. He also represented the organization in the 2021 All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field.
Nick Lodolo Career Wins
Lodolo’s verified wins include his high school production at Damien High School, a strong three-year run at Texas Christian University, and a 9–8 record during the 2024 MLB season with the Cincinnati Reds. He also earned All-Big 12 First Team recognition in 2019 as one of college baseball’s premier left-handed pitchers.
MLB Highlights
In his first full healthy MLB season, Lodolo went 9–8 with a 4.76 ERA and 122 strikeouts across 115⅓ innings in 2024. His career highlight came on July 23, 2025, when he tossed a complete-game shutout against the Washington Nationals, securing a 5–0 victory and cementing his place in the Reds’ rotation.
Other Wins and Performances
At TCU, Lodolo earned All-Big 12 honors in each of his three seasons, including a First Team selection as a junior in 2019. His college totals of 18 wins and 296 strikeouts underscored his projection as a top-of-the-rotation arm before the Reds made him a top-ten draft pick.
Nick Lodolo Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Nick Lodolo’s parents and family background are not widely documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Verified personal-life details about Nicholas Frank Lodolo, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not publicly available in the reviewed sources.
2025 Season Performance
Lodolo’s 2025 campaign has been defined by a return to health and a breakthrough performance. After navigating injury setbacks earlier in his career, he reestablished himself as a reliable rotation piece for the Cincinnati Reds, providing quality innings on a consistent basis. His July 23, 2025, complete-game shutout against the Washington Nationals marked a career-defining moment and served as the clearest evidence yet of his growth as a frontline starter.
Through the heart of the 2025 season, Lodolo has continued to feature as a key member of the Reds’ starting staff, pairing swing-and-miss stuff with improved efficiency. His ability to log deep outings has given Cincinnati’s pitching group a steadier backbone and offered glimpses of the ace-caliber potential that made him a top-ten draft pick in 2019.
Looking ahead, Lodolo’s progression will remain a focal point for the Reds as they build around their young left-hander. Continued health and refined command could position him as a long-term cornerstone of the rotation and a foundational piece of Cincinnati’s next competitive window.