Never really getting the respect his numbers have allowed, could being a step away from the Miami Marlins rotation finally get Nick Neidert the notation he deserves?
With each of our top 10 prospect lists this offseason, we will have a scouting report on one player from that organization’s top 10 list. With our recent review of the Miami Marlins, we will take a look at right-hander Nick Neidert, the Marlins #3 prospect.
Player profile
Growing up in the Atlanta metro area, Nick Neidert got plenty of press and attention in high school, which led to him being a 2nd round selection by the Seattle Mariners. While he had a solid fastball in high school, he was knocked due to his filled-out frame at the point of his drafting, not really projecting to add a lot to his frame and therefore, likely not adding a lot to his velocity. Still, he was seen as a very mature pitcher at that time and expected to handle pro ball well.
Handle pro ball well would be an understatement. Neidert’s first assignment was with the Arizona Rookie League in his draft season, where he tossed 35 1/3 innings, posting a sparkling 1.53 ERA, with a 0.96 WHIP and a 9/23 BB/K ratio.
Neidert opened his first full pro season in extended spring training, jumping straight to low-A, where he dominated the Midwest League for Clinton. He made 19 starts, pitching 91 innings, with a 2.57 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 13/69 BB/K ratio.
Nick Neidert opened 2017 in the Cal League, a tough assignment for any pitcher, but he was able to do very well. He did struggle when he was pushed up to AA. His ERA in high-A to AA went from 2.76 to 6.56. Overall, even with those rough half-dozen starts in AA, Neidert still posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 127 2/3 innings with a 22/122 BB/K ratio.
The Mariners traded Neidert as part of the trade that brought Dee Gordon to Seattle from the Miami Marlins in December of 2017. Neidert was able to repeat the same league that gave him trouble at age 20 in 2017 and pitch tremendously well for Jacksonville in AA. He pitched 152 2/3 innings, with a 3.24 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 31/154 BB/K ratio.