Mike Nikorak

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Mike Nikorak
Pitcher
Born: (1996-09-16) September 16, 1996 (age 25)
Hackettstown, New Jersey
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Michael Joseph Nikorak (born September 16, 1996) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.

Career[]

Nikorak attended Stroudsburg High School in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He played baseball and football.[1] In September 2013 he committed to the University of Alabama to play college baseball.[1] As a junior, he went 4–3 with a 1.01 earned run average (ERA) and 66 strikeouts in 47+2⁄3 innings and also batted .460.[2][3] Nikorak impressed scouts during numerous showcases during the summer 2014 after he hit 97 miles per hour.[4]

Nikorak was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the 27th selection in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[5][6][7][8] He signed with the Rockies, and was assigned to the Grand Junction Rockies, where he posted a 0-4 record with an 11.72 ERA in 17+2⁄3 innings pitched. Nikorak returned to Grand Junction in 2016, where he improved, going 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA in 28+1⁄3 innings pitched.[9]

On April 12, 2017, it was revealed that Nikorak would undergo Tommy John surgery,[10] causing him to miss the 2017 season. Due to recovering from surgery as well as other injuries, he pitched a total of 20+1⁄3 innings combined in 2018 and 2019.

He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] On April 26, 2021, Nikorak retired from professional baseball after an injury plagued career.[12]

Personal life[]

His brother Steve Nikorak played in the Chicago White Sox organization.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Mcall.com: Groller's Corner Blog". mcall.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Alabama baseball signee Mike Nikorak named to All-USA Preseason Team". AL.com. 5 March 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  3. ^ MIKE KUHNS. "Stroudsburg junior Mike Nikorak is the Pocono Record's baseball POY". poconorecord.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  4. ^ MIKE KUHNS. "Nikorak emerges as top 2015 pitching prospect". poconorecord.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Shawn McFarland (3 January 2015). "Mike Nikorak Looks to Pitch his Way to the Top of Draft Boards". Baseball Essential. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  6. ^ Mike Kuhns Record Sports Editor. "Mounties' Nikorak shrugs off pressure". poconorecord.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  7. ^ Lynn Ondrusek Pocono Record Writer. "Major league scouts line up for a look at Mounties' pitching phenom". poconorecord.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  8. ^ The Morning Call (April 10, 2015). "Stroudsburg High's Mike Nikorak is ESPN's No. 10 MLB Draft prospect - The Morning Call". themorningcall.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "Mike Nikorak Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  10. ^ "Mike Nikorak having Tommy John". Baseball America. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  11. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled".
  12. ^ @RockyMountainBK (26 April 2021). "#Rockies 2015 first-round pick Mike Nikorak has retired. He posted a 6.98 ERA in 40 career minor league appearances…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links[]


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