Nick Loftin

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Nick Loftin
Kansas City Royals
Shortstop
Born: (1998-09-25) September 25, 1998 (age 23)
Corpus Christi, Texas
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Nicholas James Loftin (born September 25, 1998) is an American professional baseball shortstop in the Kansas City Royals organization.

Amateur career[]

Loftin attended W. B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he played baseball.[1] As a senior in 2017, he batted .465 with three home runs alongside going 11–4 with a 1.10 ERA on the mound.[2] He originally committed to play college baseball at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, but later switched his commitment to Baylor University.[3] Undrafted in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Baylor.[4]

In 2018, Loftin's freshman year at Baylor, he appeared in 55 games (making 53 starts), batting .306 with six home runs and 36 RBIs, earning Freshman All-American honors alongside being named to the Big 12 Conference All-Second Team and All-Freshman Team.[5][6] As a sophomore in 2019, Loftin started 53 games in which he hit .323 with six home runs, 41 RBIs, and 18 doubles.[7][8] He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.[9] That summer, he played for both the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League and for the United States collegiate national baseball team.[10][11][12][13] Prior to Loftin's junior year in 2020, he was named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Player of the Year.[14][15][16] Over 14 games for his junior season, he batted .298 with two home runs and 15 RBIs before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional career[]

Loftin was selected 32nd overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[17] On June 23, 2020, Loftin signed with the Royals on a $3 million bonus.[18] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the pandemic.[19]

Loftin was assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Central for the 2021 season, slashing .289/.373/.463 with ten home runs and 57 RBIs over ninety games.[20]

References[]

  1. ^ Hayward, Len. "Q&A with All-South Texas Baseball MVP Nick Loftin". Caller-Times.
  2. ^ https://www.iwacc.org/uploaded/images/Campus_News/2016-2017/Angels_in_the_News/2017-06-26_4C_IWA_Senior_Makes_All-South_Texas_Baseball_Team_CALLER.pdf
  3. ^ Burns, Ashlee. "HOMETOWN HEROES: Five Questions with Baylor's Nick Loftin". USA TODAY.
  4. ^ "Nick Loftin prides himself on team-first mindset". Baseball Prospect Journal. February 20, 2020.
  5. ^ "Baylor's Loftin named Baseball America freshman All-American". https://www.kwtx.com. External link in |website= (help)
  6. ^ Staff report. "Loftin receives Baseball America freshman honors". WacoTrib.com.
  7. ^ bcherry@wacotrib.com, BRICE CHERRY. "Expectations haven't graduated for Baylor baseball". WacoTrib.com.
  8. ^ bcherry@wacotrib.com, BRICE CHERRY. "Can't keep him off the field: Baylor's easy come-easy go Loftin brings ample versatility". WacoTrib.com.
  9. ^ "All-Big 12 Baseball Awards". The Ada News.
  10. ^ Hayward, Len. "Ray grad and Baylor infielder Nick Loftin to play for USA Baseball select team". Caller-Times.
  11. ^ Staff report. "Baylor's Loftin gets his shot with USA Baseball". WacoTrib.com.
  12. ^ "GSA Spotlight: Nick Loftin". USA Baseball.
  13. ^ "Forty-One USA Baseball Alumni Selected in the 2020 MLB Draft". USA Baseball. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Martinez, Quinton. "Ray grad, Baylor infielder Nick Loftin named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year". Caller-Times.
  15. ^ "Led by Nick Loftin, Baylor baseball is a legitimate Big 12 and NCAA tournament contender | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  16. ^ "Baylor shortstop Nick Loftin headlines Preseason All-Big 12 team". kcentv.com. January 29, 2020.
  17. ^ bcherry@wacotrib.com, BRICE CHERRY. "Loftin's 'so surreal' draft moment preceded by plenty of nerves". WacoTrib.com.
  18. ^ Staff report. "Ex-Baylor SS Loftin signs with Royals". WacoTrib.com.
  19. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Cancelled". MiLB.com.
  20. ^ "Royals announce Minor League rosters". MLB.com.

External links[]

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