Nick Lodolo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #3 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: One of the best high school arms in the 2016 draft class, Lodolo was picked 41st overall by the Pirates, but opted to head to Texas Christian. Lodolo’s decision paid off when he became the top pitcher in the 2019 draft class. Picked seventh overall by the Reds, Lodolo worked on improving his changeup and adding a slider at the alternate site in 2020. Lodolo’s innings were limited in 2021. He had a blister problem that cost him a month early in the season and was shut down with a minor shoulder strain late in the season.
  
  Scouting Report: While there’s nothing spectacular about Lodolo’s pitch assortment, he has the rare ability to locate everything he throws and confidence to throw offspeed pitches in fastball counts. His 86-88 mph slider is his lone plus pitch. It’s effective against lefties and righties, as it has tight, late break. His average 93-96 mph fastball works because he can run it in and out—he mainly throws a sinker, but also mixes in a four-seamer, and he throws a cutter as well. His fringy, sweepy curveball became much less of a factor as he gained confidence in his slider. His average changeup has improved as a pro, and he’s shown confidence to spot it against lefties and righties. Lodolo already has plus control with his repeatable delivery, and he projects to have future plus command.
  
  The Future: Lodolo is unlikely to develop into an ace, but he is one of the safer bets in the minors to develop into a solid MLB starter. His confidence facing righthanded hitters and his command make everything play up, giving him a shot to be a reliable No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
  
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #7 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 55. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: A supplemental first-round pick of the Pirates in 2016, Lodolo opted to head to Texas Christian instead of signing. After a dominant junior year at TCU, the Reds drafted him seventh overall in 2019 and signed him for $5.32 million. Lodolo appeared to be on the fast track after a brilliant pro debut, but his stuff regressed in 2020 during his stint at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lodolo is a 6-foot-6 lefty with plus control of his three-pitch arsenal, but his stuff simply wasn’t good enough to beat advanced hitters at the alternate training site. Lodolo’s fastball sat 90-94 mph, a tick or two slower than his debut, and his armside command was not particularly sharp. The unique challenges of the 2020 season may be a reason for those issues, but he’ll need to improve. Lodolo’s plus curveball with good depth and late snap is his best weapon and projects as a plus pitch. He has worked on throwing his changeup against both righties and lefties, but it is still in the early stages of development and has a long way to go to get to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lodolo’s ceiling has always been more of a mid-rotation starter than an ace. He needs to improve his velocity, fastball command and changeup to get there.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #3 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Lodolo decided not to sign with the Pirates out of high school after they drafted him 41st overall in 2016. He made his way to Texas Christian and struck out 11.4 batters per nine innings as a junior to emerge as the consensus top pitcher in the 2019 draft. The Reds took him No. 7 overall and signed him for the full slot amount of $5,432,200. Lodolo struck out 30 batters and didn't issue a single walk in 18.1 innings after signing and reached low Class A Dayton.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Highly competitive, Lodolo comes right after hitters with his three-pitch mix. He attacks with a fastball that sits 92-93 mph and tops out at 96 with life. He works off his fastball with a plus curveball that has good depth and late snap to it with occasional sweeping action, and he has especially good feel to command it. Lodolo's third offering is an upper-80s changeup that currently lacks separation from his fastball but could end up an average pitch over time. For a taller pitcher at 6-foot-6, Lodolo projects to have plus command and control with the ability to fill up the strike zone.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lodolo has the stuff and aggressiveness to be a mid-rotation starter and has a chance to move quickly. He'll head to high Class A Daytona in 2020.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #8 prospect in 2019 draft
  A first-team Preseason All-American, Lodolo is one of the few high-profile college pitching prospects with a long track record of starting in college. After the Pirates drafted Lodolo with the 41st overall pick in 2016 but failed to sign him, Lodolo made his way to Texas Christian, where he started 15 games as both as freshman and sophomore. Despite his durability, Lodolo was more solid than spectacular, posting a 4.35 ERA in 2017 and a 4.32 mark in 2018. He allowed more hits than scouts expected given his solid stuff, capped off by allowing more than 9.3 hits per nine innings as a sophomore. Lodolo has taken an impressive step forward as a junior, however. A 6-foot-6, 180-pound lefthander who still has room to fill out, Lodolo has pitched mostly off of two pitches this spring--a low-90s fastball that touches 94-95 mph with solid running life out of a lower arm slot and a sweepy breaking ball that flashes the makings of a plus pitch but needs more consistency. As a sophomore, Lodolo regularly showcased a changeup that had plus potential as well, but as his fastball command improved this spring (his walk rate went from 3.27 walks per nine innings in 2017 to 1.65 per nine through his first 10 starts in 2019), he has used the changeup less often. Lodolo's stuff isn't quite as loud as the typical top college starter of a draft class, but he is a high-probability major leaguer with above-average control of three pitches that are current average offerings but could be plus pitches in the future. He still has more projection than the typical three-year collegiate arm thanks to a lean body that can add more weight, and he was one of the best performers in the country through his first seven starts of the season before hitting a slight speed bump in April. Lodolo is a no-doubt starter who has proven to be a reliable Big 12 arm, but he profiles as a middle-of-the-rotation starter more than a No. 1 or No. 2 starter in the majors.
• Ranked #78 prospect in 2016 draft
  Lean and lanky at 6-foot-6, 180 pounds, Lodolo checks a couple of important boxes for pitchers, with plenty of projection in his body and lefthandedness. He also has some track record, having pitched well during the 2015 Area Code Games, the Perfect Game All-America Game and over several varsity seasons at Damien High and in travel ball. A Texas Christian signee, Lodolo has to add strength but has room in his frame to do so. He's popped some 92-mph readings on his fastball but generally sits in the upper 80s, getting downhill and creating some tough angle to hitters that makes him difficult to elevate. The ball comes out easy, and Lodolo has shown the ability to spin the baseball. His curveball needs some polish and could use more power, as it's thrown in the low 70s. He has shown the ability to locate it and his changeup, and occasionally rips off a true plus curve. He had a strong spring, albeit with a hiccup during the Boras Classic in April. Whether Lodolo has enough present stuff to be bought out of his TCU commitment remains to be seen.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #3 prospect in 2021
  The first pitcher drafted in 2019, Lodolo made a loud pro debut in 2019 that summer by striking out 30 and walking none in 18.1 innings. His encore had to wait until 2021 because of the pandemic, but he made the most of it by dominating Double-A and reaching Triple-A for three appearances before shutting down with shoulder fatigue. Lodolo’s slider was described as “disgusting” by one league manager. He adds and subtracts from the pitch and has uncanny command of his slider, enabling him to throw the pitch to get back into counts. His slider darts under the bats of righthanded hitters, while lefthanders have almost no chance against the sweepier version. His wide arm slot adds deception. Lodolo’s fastball peaks in the mid 90s and is effective against hitters who have guard against his slider. He doesn’t throw a changeup much. Lodolo also missed time with blisters on his pitching hand, limiting him to 50.2 total innings.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #36 prospect in 2022
• Ranked Baseball America's #77 prospect in 2020

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: One of the best high school arms in the 2016 draft class, Lodolo was picked 41st overall by the Pirates, but opted to head to Texas Christian. Lodolo&#39s decision paid off when he became the top pitcher in the 2019 draft class. Picked seventh overall by the Reds, Lodolo worked on improving his changeup and adding a slider at the alternate site in 2020. Lodolo&#39s innings were limited in 2021. He had a blister problem that cost him a month early in the season and he was shut down with a minor shoulder strain late in the season.
  
  Scouting Report: While there&#39s nothing spectacular about Lodolo&#39s pitch assortment, he has the rare ability to locate everything he throws and confidence to throw offspeed pitches in fastball counts. His 86-88 mph slider is his lone plus pitch. It&#39s effective against lefties and righties, as it has tight, late break. His average 93-96 mph fastball works because he can run it in and out—he mainly throws a sinker, but also mixes in a four-seamer and he throws a cutter as well. His fringy, sweepy curveball became much less of a factor as he gained confidence in his slider. His average changeup has improved as a pro, and he&#39s shown confidence to spot it against lefties and righties. Lodolo already has plus control and with his repeatable delivery, and he projects to have future plus command.
  
  The Future: Lodolo is unlikely to develop into an ace, but he is one of the safer bets in the minors to develop into a solid MLB starter. His confidence facing righthanded hitters and his command make everything play up, giving him a shot to be a reliable No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 60. Cutter: 50. Curveball: 40. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: One of the best high school arms in the 2016 draft class, Lodolo was picked 41st overall by the Pirates, but opted to head to Texas Christian. Lodolo’s decision paid off when he became the top pitcher in the 2019 draft class. Picked seventh overall by the Reds, Lodolo worked on improving his changeup and adding a slider at the alternate site in 2020. Lodolo’s innings were limited in 2021. He had a blister problem that cost him a month early in the season and was shut down with a minor shoulder strain late in the season.
  
  Scouting Report: While there’s nothing spectacular about Lodolo’s pitch assortment, he has the rare ability to locate everything he throws and confidence to throw offspeed pitches in fastball counts. His 86-88 mph slider is his lone plus pitch. It’s effective against lefties and righties, as it has tight, late break. His average 93-96 mph fastball works because he can run it in and out—he mainly throws a sinker, but also mixes in a four-seamer, and he throws a cutter as well. His fringy, sweepy curveball became much less of a factor as he gained confidence in his slider. His average changeup has improved as a pro, and he’s shown confidence to spot it against lefties and righties. Lodolo already has plus control with his repeatable delivery, and he projects to have future plus command.
  
  The Future: Lodolo is unlikely to develop into an ace, but he is one of the safer bets in the minors to develop into a solid MLB starter. His confidence facing righthanded hitters and his command make everything play up, giving him a shot to be a reliable No. 3 or No. 4 starter.
  
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  The first pitcher drafted in 2019, Lodolo made a loud pro debut in 2019 that summer by striking out 30 and walking none in 18.1 innings. His encore had to wait until 2021 because of the pandemic, but he made the most of it by dominating Double-A and reaching Triple-A for three appearances before shutting down with shoulder fatigue. Lodolo’s slider was described as “disgusting” by one league manager. He adds and subtracts from the pitch and has uncanny command of his slider, enabling him to throw the pitch to get back into counts. His slider darts under the bats of righthanded hitters, while lefthanders have almost no chance against the sweepier version. His wide arm slot adds deception. Lodolo’s fastball peaks in the mid 90s and is effective against hitters who have guard against his slider. He doesn’t throw a changeup much. Lodolo also missed time with blisters on his pitching hand, limiting him to 50.2 total innings.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: A supplemental first-round pick of the Pirates in 2016, Lodolo opted to head to Texas Christian instead of signing. After a dominant junior year at TCU, the Reds drafted him seventh overall in 2019 and signed him for $5.32 million. Lodolo appeared to be on the fast track after a brilliant pro debut, but his stuff regressed in 2020 during his stint at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lodolo is a 6-foot-6 lefty with plus control of his three-pitch arsenal, but his stuff simply wasn't good enough to beat advanced hitters at the alternate training site. Lodolo's fastball sat 90-94 mph, a tick or two slower than his debut, and his armside command was not particularly sharp. The unique challenges of the 2020 season may be a reason for those issues, but he'll need to improve. Lodolo's plus curveball with good depth and late snap is his best weapon and projects as a plus pitch. He has worked on throwing his changeup against both righties and lefties, but it is still in the early stages of development and has a long way to go to get to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lodolo's ceiling has always been more of a mid-rotation starter than an ace. He needs to improve his velocity, fastball command and changeup to get there.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: A supplemental first-round pick of the Pirates in 2016, Lodolo opted to head to Texas Christian instead of signing. After a dominant junior year at TCU, the Reds drafted him seventh overall in 2019 and signed him for $5.32 million. Lodolo appeared to be on the fast track after a brilliant pro debut, but his stuff regressed in 2020 during his stint at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lodolo is a 6-foot-6 lefty with plus control of his three-pitch arsenal, but his stuff simply wasn’t good enough to beat advanced hitters at the alternate training site. Lodolo’s fastball sat 90-94 mph, a tick or two slower than his debut, and his armside command was not particularly sharp. The unique challenges of the 2020 season may be a reason for those issues, but he’ll need to improve. Lodolo’s plus curveball with good depth and late snap is his best weapon and projects as a plus pitch. He has worked on throwing his changeup against both righties and lefties, but it is still in the early stages of development and has a long way to go to get to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lodolo’s ceiling has always been more of a mid-rotation starter than an ace. He needs to improve his velocity, fastball command and changeup to get there.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 60. Control: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: A supplemental first-round pick of the Pirates in 2016, Lodolo opted to head to Texas Christian instead of signing. After a dominant junior year at TCU, the Reds drafted him seventh overall in 2019 and signed him for $5.32 million. Lodolo appeared to be on the fast track after a brilliant pro debut, but his stuff regressed in 2020 during his stint at the alternate training site.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Lodolo is a 6-foot-6 lefty with plus control of his three-pitch arsenal, but his stuff simply wasn’t good enough to beat advanced hitters at the alternate training site. Lodolo’s fastball sat 90-94 mph, a tick or two slower than his debut, and his armside command was not particularly sharp. The unique challenges of the 2020 season may be a reason for those issues, but he’ll need to improve. Lodolo’s plus curveball with good depth and late snap is his best weapon and projects as a plus pitch. He has worked on throwing his changeup against both righties and lefties, but it is still in the early stages of development and has a long way to go to get to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lodolo’s ceiling has always been more of a mid-rotation starter than an ace. He needs to improve his velocity, fastball command and changeup to get there.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lodolo decided not to sign with the Pirates out of high school after they drafted him 41st overall in 2016. He made his way to Texas Christian and struck out 11.4 batters per nine innings as a junior to emerge as the consensus top pitcher in the 2019 draft. The Reds took him No. 7 overall and signed him for the full slot amount of $5,432,200. Lodolo struck out 30 batters and didn’t issue a single walk in 18.1 innings after signing and reached low Class A Dayton.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Highly competitive, Lodolo comes right after hitters with his three-pitch mix. He attacks with a fastball that sits 92-93 mph and tops out at 96 with life. He works off his fastball with a plus curveball that has good depth and late snap to it with occasional sweeping action, and he has especially good feel to command it. Lodolo’s third offering is an upper-80s changeup that currently lacks separation from his fastball but could end up an average pitch over time. For a taller pitcher at 6-foot-6, Lodolo projects to have plus command and control with the ability to fill up the strike zone.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lodolo has the stuff and aggressiveness to be a mid-rotation starter and has a chance to move quickly. He’ll head to high Class A Daytona in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Lodolo decided not to sign with the Pirates out of high school after they drafted him 41st overall in 2016. He made his way to Texas Christian and struck out 11.4 batters per nine innings as a junior to emerge as the consensus top pitcher in the 2019 draft. The Reds took him No. 7 overall and signed him for the full slot amount of $5,432,200. Lodolo struck out 30 batters and didn't issue a single walk in 18.1 innings after signing and reached low Class A Dayton.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Highly competitive, Lodolo comes right after hitters with his three-pitch mix. He attacks with a fastball that sits 92-93 mph and tops out at 96 with life. He works off his fastball with a plus curveball that has good depth and late snap to it with occasional sweeping action, and he has especially good feel to command it. Lodolo's third offering is an upper-80s changeup that currently lacks separation from his fastball but could end up an average pitch over time. For a taller pitcher at 6-foot-6, Lodolo projects to have plus command and control with the ability to fill up the strike zone.
  
  THE FUTURE: Lodolo has the stuff and aggressiveness to be a mid-rotation starter and has a chance to move quickly. He'll head to high Class A Daytona in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A first-team Preseason All-American, Lodolo is one of the few high-profile college pitching prospects with a long track record of starting in college. After the Pirates drafted Lodolo with the 41st overall pick in 2016 but failed to sign him, Lodolo made his way to Texas Christian, where he started 15 games as both as freshman and sophomore. Despite his durability, Lodolo was more solid than spectacular, posting a 4.35 ERA in 2017 and a 4.32 mark in 2018. He allowed more hits than scouts expected given his solid stuff, capped off by allowing more than 9.3 hits per nine innings as a sophomore. Lodolo has taken an impressive step forward as a junior, however. A 6-foot-6, 180-pound lefthander who still has room to fill out, Lodolo has pitched mostly off of two pitches this spring--a low-90s fastball that touches 94-95 mph with solid running life out of a lower arm slot and a sweepy breaking ball that flashes the makings of a plus pitch but needs more consistency. As a sophomore, Lodolo regularly showcased a changeup that had plus potential as well, but as his fastball command improved this spring (his walk rate went from 3.27 walks per nine innings in 2017 to 1.65 per nine through his first 10 starts in 2019), he has used the changeup less often. Lodolo's stuff isn't quite as loud as the typical top college starter of a draft class, but he is a high-probability major leaguer with above-average control of three pitches that are current average offerings but could be plus pitches in the future. He still has more projection than the typical three-year collegiate arm thanks to a lean body that can add more weight, and he was one of the best performers in the country through his first seven starts of the season before hitting a slight speed bump in April. Lodolo is a no-doubt starter who has proven to be a reliable Big 12 arm, but he profiles as a middle-of-the-rotation starter more than a No. 1 or No. 2 starter in the majors.