Douglas Samuel Nikhazy (born August 11, 1999) is an American baseball pitcher in the Cleveland Guardians organization. He played college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Doug Nikhazy | |
---|---|
Cleveland Guardians | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Burlington, North Carolina | August 11, 1999|
Bats: Left Throws: Left |
Nikhazy grew up in Windermere, Florida. In eighth grade he was selected to the Under-15 United States national baseball team.[1] Nikhazy attended West Orange High School, where he pitched and played right field on the baseball team.[2] He committed to play college baseball at Ole Miss during his freshman year.[3]
Nikhazy was named a freshman All-American after posting a 9-3 record and a 3.31 ERA with Ole Miss freshman record 86 strikeouts.[4] After the season he was selected to play on the Team USA collegiate national baseball team.[5] 3-1 record and 2.35 ERA with 31 strikeouts in four starts before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[6] He was named first team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) and was a consensus first team All-American as a junior after going 12-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 142 strikeouts over 92 innings pitched.[7][8]
Nikhazy was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the second round with the 58th overall pick of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[9] On July 23, 2021, Nikhazy signed with the Indians for a $1.2 million bonus.[10] He made his professional debut in 2022 with the Lake County Captains of the High-A Midwest League.[11]
In February 2020, Nikhazy was arrested in Oxford, Mississippi for driving under the influence.[12] He was released the same night of the arrest, issued an apology, and returned to the baseball team without missing any playing time.[13]