Nick Mears Bio
Nicolaus Tanner Mears, known professionally as Nick Mears, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed reliever, Mears has spent his major league career bouncing between the Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Milwaukee Brewers before landing in Kansas City. Known for a high-velocity fastball and a willingness to attack hitters from the bullpen, he has carved out a role as a late-inning arm across multiple organizations.
Born on October 7, 1996, Mears began his professional journey as an undrafted free agent and worked his way through the minor leagues to reach the majors in 2020. Across his MLB tenure, he has been valued for his strikeout ability and his resilience after returning from elbow surgery.
Early Life and Background
Mears grew up in the Rocklin, California, area and attended Rocklin High School, where he developed his pitching skills and caught the attention of college recruiters. After high school, he continued his baseball development at Sacramento City College, a junior college program that has produced several professional players over the years.
During the summers of 2017 and 2018, Mears played summer league baseball for the Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League, a collegiate wooden-bat circuit in the upper Midwest. The summer ball experience gave him a chance to face high-level amateur hitters and refine his mechanics against wooden bats, an important step for pitchers hoping to reach the professional ranks.
Path to Professional Baseball
After completing his college career, Mears went undrafted in the 2018 MLB Draft. Rather than give up on professional baseball, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an undrafted free agent on August 22, 2018, beginning his climb through the minor league system.
Mears reached the Double-A Altoona Curve in his first full professional season, though he spent the bulk of the year with the High-A Bradenton Marauders. Used exclusively out of the bullpen across three levels in 2019, he threw 46 and two-thirds innings, striking out 69 batters while walking just 18 and posting a 3.28 ERA, a performance that put him on the Pirates’ major league radar.
Nick Mears Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
After signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in August 2018, Mears split his first full professional season in 2019 between the High-A Bradenton Marauders and the Double-A Altoona Curve, working exclusively as a reliever. Across the two levels he posted a 3.28 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 46 and two-thirds innings, showing the swing-and-miss stuff that would later define his big-league profile.
The strong 2019 season earned Mears a spot on the Pirates’ 60-man player pool during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, and he was called up to the majors for the first time on August 8, 2020. That same night he made his MLB debut against the Detroit Tigers, pitching one inning and allowing one run.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2020–2022)
Mears made four appearances with the Pirates during the shortened 2020 season, throwing five innings and giving up three runs as he adjusted to the speed of the major leagues. He began the 2021 season at Pittsburgh’s alternate training site before joining the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians when their season began in May. After several stints on the major league roster, he settled in with the Pirates and built a foothold in their bullpen.
The 2022 season was a difficult one for Mears. He was placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the year on March 15 after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow, an injury that kept him out for most of the season. He was activated on August 20 and optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. On December 18, 2022, Mears was designated for assignment following Pittsburgh’s acquisition of Connor Joe, ending his time with the organization that originally signed him.
Colorado Rockies Era (2023–2024)
After being designated for assignment by the Pirates, Mears was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers on December 23, 2022. His stay in Texas lasted just four days before he was designated for assignment to make room for free-agent signing Nathan Eovaldi. On January 6, 2023, Mears was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies and was optioned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to begin the season.
In 16 games for the Rockies in 2023, Mears posted a 3.72 ERA with 21 strikeouts, showing a bounce-back performance after his elbow surgery. He returned to the Rockies’ bullpen in 2024 and made 41 appearances, registering a 5.56 ERA with 57 strikeouts across 45 and one-third innings pitched.
Milwaukee Brewers Era (2024)
On July 27, 2024, Mears was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospects Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera. The deal gave him a fresh start in a contending organization down the stretch of the regular season.
In 13 appearances for Milwaukee, however, Mears struggled to an 0-1 record and a 7.30 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 12 and one-third innings pitched, a rough close to his time in the National League Central.
Kansas City Royals Era (2025–Present)
On December 14, 2025, Mears was traded to the Kansas City Royals along with Isaac Collins in exchange for pitcher Ángel Zerpa. The move brought him to the American League and gave the Royals another power arm for the back end of their bullpen.
Mears joined a Kansas City club that has been building around young pitching and aggressive bullpen usage, providing him an opportunity to reset his role after an up-and-down couple of seasons.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a reliever, Mears has built his career around a high-velocity fastball and the ability to miss bats at a high rate, evidenced by his minor league strikeout numbers and his major league swing-and-miss profile. He has been used almost exclusively out of the bullpen at every level, which has allowed him to focus on short bursts rather than pacing himself through lineups. His bounce-back in 2023 after elbow surgery showed a resilience and ability to adjust that have defined his career arc.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Mears’ career came on August 8, 2020, when he made his major league debut with the Pirates against the Detroit Tigers, fulfilling a lifelong goal after going undrafted just two years earlier. He has since pitched for four different MLB organizations, a journey that highlights both his perseverance and the value teams have placed on his raw arm talent.
Nick Mears Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Nick Mears’ immediate family and personal life is limited, and detailed details about his parents, spouse, or children have not been widely reported. Mears has largely kept his personal life private as he has moved between organizations over the course of his career.
2025 Season Performance
Nick Mears entered the 2025 season as a member of the Kansas City Royals after being acquired in the December 2025 trade that sent Ángel Zerpa to the Milwaukee Brewers. The trade positioned him in a Royals bullpen that has been emphasizing high-velocity relievers, giving him a clear opportunity to claim a late-inning role.
With the Royals continuing to develop their young core and compete in the American League Central, Mears’ swing-and-miss profile fits the type of reliever Kansas City has leaned on in tight situations. His 2023 performance in Colorado, when he posted a 3.72 ERA in 16 appearances, stands as a recent reminder of what he can deliver when his mechanics are right.
Looking ahead through the rest of 2025, Mears’ primary goal will be to find consistency and stay healthy after his 2022 elbow surgery, while carving out a dependable role in a Royals bullpen looking to take the next step as a team.