Nicholas James Wittgren (born May 29, 1991) is an American

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

in the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

organization. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...

, and

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...

Amateur career

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. He served as the Closer (baseball), closer for Purdue during his two years, finishing with a 2.54 earned run average (ERA), 22 Save (baseball), 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.

Professional career

Miami Marlins

Nick Wittgren, 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game

Wittgren was drafted by the

in the ninth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. During his first professional season he had a 1.17 ERA, 13 saves and 47 strikeouts over 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. For the season he posted a 0.77 ERA with 26 saves and 63 strikeouts over . At the end of the season he was named the Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year by the staff of MiLB.com. 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. 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. 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 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 innings. Wittgren was designated for assignment on January 29, 2019 following the signing of Neil Walker (baseball), Neil Walker.

Cleveland Indians

On February 4, 2019, Wittgren was traded to the

in exchange for Jordan Milbrath. On March 24, 2019, Wittgren was optioned to the AAA Columbus Clippers. On April 9, 2019, he was called up to the Indians after Mike Clevinger went to the 10-day IL. With the 2020 Cleveland Indians season, 2020 Cleveland Indians, Wittgren appeared in 25 games, compiling a 2-0 record with 3.42 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 23.2 innings pitched. Wittgren made 60 appearances in 2021, posting a 5.05 ERA and 61 strikeouts. On November 5, 2021, the Indians outrighted Wittgren off their 40-man roster; Wittgren subsequently elected free agency.

St. Louis Cardinals

On March 13, 2022, Wittgren signed a one-year contract with the

. After recording a 5.90 ERA in a team-leading 29 appearances for the Cardinals, Wittgren was designated for assignment on July 2. Wittgren was released on July 9.

Kansas City Royals

On December 23, 2022, Wittgren signed a minor league deal with the

International career

Wittgren was selected to represent Germany national baseball team, Germany at the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualification.

Personal life

Wittgren and his wife, Ashley, have two sons together. They met in 2011 while Wittgren was playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where Ashley worked. She has a master's degree in strength and conditioning, and is Wittgren's personal trainer during the off-season.

References

External links

Purdue Boilermakers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wittgren, Nick 1991 births Living people Baseball players from Torrance, California Major League Baseball pitchers Miami Marlins players Cleveland Indians players St. Louis Cardinals players Purdue Boilermakers baseball players Hyannis Harbor Hawks players Jamestown Jammers players Greensboro Grasshoppers players Jupiter Hammerheads players Jacksonville Suns players Glendale Desert Dogs players New Orleans Zephyrs players New Orleans Baby Cakes players Columbus Clippers players Parkland Cobras baseball players