Nick Lodolo

Lodolo attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, and played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher.^[2] As a senior, he had a 8–2 win–loss record with a 1.97 earned run average (ERA), striking out 83 batters in 65 innings pitched.^[3] After his senior year, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Lodolo with the 41st overall pick in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.^[4] However, he did not sign and instead chose to fulfill his commitment to attend Texas Christian University (TCU) and play college baseball for the TCU Horned Frogs.^[5]

As a freshman at TCU in 2017, Lodolo appeared in 17 games (15 starts) where he compiled a 5–1 record with a 4.35 ERA.^[6] He was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team as well as to the All-Freshman Team.^[7] In 2018, as a sophomore, he went 7–4 with a 4.32 ERA, striking out 93 batters in 77 innings over 16 games (15 starts) and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team once again.^[8][9] Prior to the 2019 season, Lodolo was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.^[10] Lodolo finished his junior season with a 6–6 record and a 2.36 ERA, striking out 131 in 103 innings.^[11] He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.^[12] In his college career, he was 18–11 with a 3.55 ERA in 2582⁄3 innings, in which he struck out 296 batters.^[13]

Lodolo was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.^[14] He was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the seventh overall pick.^[15] He signed for $5.43 million, and was assigned to the Billings Mustangs of the Rookie Advanced Pioneer League.^[16][17] After six starts with Billings, he was promoted to the Dayton Dragons of the Single-A Midwest League in July.^[18] Following two starts with Dayton, Lodolo reached his innings limit, and was shut down for the remainder of the year.^[19] Over eight starts between Billings and Dayton, he pitched to a 0–1 record with a 2.45 ERA, striking out 30 in 18+1⁄3 innings.^[20]

Lodolo did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[21] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A South.^[22] He was named the league's Player of the Month in May after compiling a 1.01 ERA with 38 strikeouts and a 0.83 WHIP over 26+2⁄3 innings.^[23] On June 15, he was placed on the injured list due to a blister on a finger on his left hand, and was activated a few weeks later.^[24] That same month, Lodolo was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game at Coors Field.^[25] Over ten starts with the Lookouts, he went 2–1 with a 1.84 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 44 innings.^[26] In early August, he was promoted to the Louisville Bats of the Triple-A East.^[27] He was placed back on the injured list in late August with a shoulder strain, and missed the remainder of the season.^[28] Over three starts with Louisville, Lodolo went 0-1 and gave up four earned runs and two walks while striking out ten over 6+2⁄3 innings.^[29]

On April 13, 2022, the Reds selected Lodolo's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.^[30] He made his MLB debut that day as the starting pitcher versus the Cleveland Guardians.^[31] Over four innings, he allowed five earned runs on seven hits (two home runs), three walks, and four strikeouts, taking the loss as the Reds fell 7–3.^[32] After three starts, he was placed on the injured list with a back strain.^[33] In 2022, he was 4–7 with a 3.66 ERA in 1031⁄3 innings, and led the majors in hit batsmen, with 19.^[34]

To begin the 2023 season, Lodolo made 7 starts for the Reds, struggling to a 6.29 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 34+1⁄3 innings pitched. On May 13, Lodolo was scratched from a scheduled start against the Miami Marlins with what was described as a lingering ankle/calf injury.^[35] An MRI of his left leg revealed a stress reaction in his tibia,^[36] and he was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 3.^[37] On August 31, it was announced that Lodolo would miss the remainder of the season.^[38]

In 2024, Lodolo posted a 9–8 record and a 4.76 ERA with 122 strikeouts in 1151⁄3 innings.

On July 23, 2025, Lodolo recorded his first career complete-game shutout against the Washington Nationals in a 5–0 victory.^[39]

2025 was a breakout year for Lodolo who achieved a 3.33 ERA over 156.2 innings and was tied for the major league lead in Complete Games (2) and Shutouts (1).^[40]