Nick Wittgren

Nicholas James Wittgren (born May 29, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Miami Marlins.

Nick Wittgren
Wittgren with the Indians in February 2020
Cleveland Indians – No. 62
Pitcher
Born: (1991-05-29) May 29, 1991
Torrance, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 2016, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through August 16, 2020)
Win–loss record14–6
Earned run average3.33
Strikeouts187
Teams

Career

Amateur

Wittgren was born in Torrance, California, but grew up in Lafayette, Indiana where he attended McCutcheon High School and played for the school's baseball, basketball, and tennis teams. Wittgren played college baseball at Parkland College for a year before transferring to Purdue University where he played from 2011 to 2012.[1] He served as the closer for Purdue during his two years, finishing with a 2.54 earned run average (ERA), 22 saves and 94 strikeouts over 92 innings pitched. In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]

Miami Marlins
Wittgren with the Zephyrs in 2015

Wittgren was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the ninth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[3] During his first professional season he had a 1.17 ERA, 13 saves and 47 strikeouts over ​30 2⁄3 innings while playing for the Jamestown Jammers and Greensboro Grasshoppers. He started the 2013 season with the Jupiter Hammerheads and was promoted to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns.[4][5] For the season he posted a 0.77 ERA with 26 saves and 63 strikeouts over ​58 1⁄3. At the end of the season he was named the Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year by the staff of MiLB.com.[6][7][8] Wittgren returned to Jacksonville in 2014. He appeared in 52 games and had a 3.55 ERA, 20 saves and 56 strikeouts over 66 innings.[9] He again returned to Jacksonville to start 2015, but was promoted to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs after two games.

The Marlins promoted Wittgren to the major leagues on April 19, 2016.[10] In his first Major League appearance, he walked the only batter he faced, Anthony Rendon. Rendon later scored on Bryce Harper's grand slam. He spent most of the season in the Marlins bullpen, appearing in 48 games. He had a 3.14 ERA in ​51 2⁄3 innings. The next season he spent time between the AAA level and the Marlins bullpen, appearing in 38 games with a 4.68 ERA in ​42 1⁄3 innings. Wittgren was designated for assignment on January 29, 2019 following the signing of Neil Walker.

Cleveland Indians

On February 4, 2019, Wittgren was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Jordan Milbrath.[11] On March 24, 2019, Wittgren was optioned to the AAA Columbus Clippers.[12] On April 9, 2019, he was called up to the Indians after Mike Clevinger went to the 10-day IL.

References
  1. Editor, Travis Baugh Assistant Sports. "Wittgren uses community college as stepping stone".CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. "#9 Nick Wittgren - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. "Wittgren Selected in Ninth Round by Miami Marlins in MLB Draft". Purduesports.com. June 5, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  4. "Nick Wittgren promoted to Double-A". Php.jconline.com. September 1, 2013. Archived from the original on September 5, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  5. "Hammerheads' Closer breezing through Florida State League".
  6. Parker, John (October 25, 2013). "Closing time: Wittgren is top reliever". Milb.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  7. "Nick Wittgren (McCutcheon/Purdue) earns minor league Relief Pitcher of the Year honor". Jconline.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  8. "Purdue's Nick Wittgren earns minor league Relief Pitcher of the Year honor".
  9. "Former Purdue baseball star Wittgren still winning".
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2016-04-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25925457/indians-acquire-right-hander-nick-wittgren-trade-marlins
  12. Ryan Lewis (March 24, 2019). "Indians option Nick Wittgren to Triple-A; Opening Day bullpen is set". www.ohio.com. GateHouse Media, LLC. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
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