Nick Wittgren

BIOGRAPHY

Nick Wittgren was born May 29, 1991, in Torrance, California. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Wittgren was drafted by the Miami Marlins 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 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. 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. 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 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.

With the 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.

On December 23, 2022, Wittgren signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. He was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin the 2023 season, making 17 appearances and registering a 1.25 ERA with 19 strikeouts and 5 saves in 21.2 innings pitched. On May 23, Wittgren's contract was selected to the active roster.