Aaron Nola

Aaron Nola
Nola with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 27
Pitcher
Born: (1993-06-04) June 4, 1993
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 21, 2015, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record 41–28
Earned run average 3.35
Strikeouts 597
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Aaron Michael Nola (born June 4, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at Louisiana State University (LSU). He was drafted by the Phillies in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, and made his major league debut on July 21, 2015.

College career

Nola was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft out of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[1] However, he decided not to sign and instead attended Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college baseball for the LSU Tigers.

As a freshman in 2012, Nola pitched to a 7–4 win–loss record with a 3.61 earned run average (ERA) and 89 strikeouts in ​89 2⁄3 innings pitched. That summer, Nola was selected by USA Baseball to play for the United States collegiate national team.[2] During his sophomore year, on April 22, 2013, Nola shared the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Pitcher of the Week Award with Bobby Wahl of the Ole Miss Rebels.[3] For his sophomore season, Nola went 12–1 with a 1.57 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 126 innings pitched, he was named an All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball.[4][5] He was also the SEC Pitcher of the Year.[6] As a junior in 2014, he pitched to an 11–1 record with a 1.47 ERA and 134 strikeouts. He again won the SEC Pitcher of the Year Award,[7] as well as the National Pitcher of the Year Award.[8] He was also a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy.[9][10]

Professional career

Minor leagues

Nola was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round, seventh overall, in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[11] He signed with the Phillies on June 10.[12] After seven predominantly successful appearances for the Clearwater Threshers of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, Nola earned a promotion to the Reading Fightin Phils of the Double-A Eastern League, on August 2, 2014. Former Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg opined, "He's just showed a good power arm, a real good fastball. It's a quick move for him, but he was ready for it."[13]

Philadelphia Phillies

Nola began the 2015 season with Reading and after making 12 starts, was promoted to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the Class AAA International League. He made his major league debut for the Phillies on July 21, 2015.[14] He lost, 1–0, in his debut when he surrendered the game's only run on a solo home run to the opposing pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays' Nathan Karns.[15] He earned his first victory less than a week later, pitching 7​2⁄3 innings in the Phillies' 11–5 victory over the Chicago Cubs on July 26.[16] Nola contributed to his own cause with an RBI single in the same game.[16] He finished the 2015 season 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts.

Nola began the 2016 season in the Phillies rotation. After posting an 0-2 record with a 5.68 ERA in his first three starts, Nola went on a tear over his next nine starts, going 5-2 with a 1.68 ERA in 59 innings with 61 strikeouts and giving up just 4 home runs. He struggled over his next 8 starts though, pitching to a 9.82 ERA, a 1-5 record, a .367 opponents batting average and managing just one quality start, raising his ERA in that span from 2.65 to 4.78. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list August 3rd with a strain in his right elbow and was shut down for the rest of the season. Despite Nola's mediocre 4.78 ERA and 6-9 record, his 121 strikeouts in 111 innings (9.81 K's per nine innings) and 3.08 FIP (fielding independent pitching) showed signs of promise.

Nola experienced a turnaround in the 2017 season. Although he began the season with a 5.06 ERA in his first five starts, he went 10-8 with a 3.18 ERA the rest of the way. He threw a career-high eight innings against the Atlanta Braves in a 3-1 win on June 6. On July 26 Nola struck out a then career-high 10 batters in six shutout innings against the Houston Astros. From June 22 to August 12 Nola posted 10 straight starts of at least six innings pitched and no more than two runs allowed (posting a 6-2 record and 1.71 ERA in that span), a franchise record. He notched a career-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings against the Miami Marlins on September 13. Nola finished the season 12-11 with a 3.54 ERA in 168 innings (27 starts), striking out 184 batters (9.86 K/9) against 49 walks and limiting opponents to a .241 batting average.

Nola was named to his first All Star team in 2018 after posting an 11-2 record and 2.41 ERA in his first 18 starts of the season. [17] On July 9, Nola notched his 36th career win following a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets, tying him with Grover Cleveland Alexander for most wins in a Phillies pitcher's first 79 career starts. With this win, Nola also became the first Phillies pitcher to earn 12 wins and have an ERA under 3.50 in the team's first 89 games since Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1916.[18][19]

Personal

His brother, Austin, also played at LSU and currently also plays professional baseball in the Miami Marlins organization.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Greater New Orleans (June 8, 2011). "MLB draft pick Aaron Nola weighs joining brother with LSU Tigers or signing pro deal". Nola.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ Greater New Orleans (April 16, 2013). "LSU pitcher Aaron Nola gets invite from Team USA". Nola.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  3. ↑ Mississippi (April 22, 2013). "Mississippi State's Nick Ammirati, Ole Miss' Bobby Wahl honored by SEC | gulflive.com". Blog.gulflive.com. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ Hilary Scheinuk, NOLA.com. "LSU baseball trio nabs All-America honors". Times-Picayune. Nola.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  5. ↑ Greater New Orleans (May 30, 2013). "LSU's Mason Katz, Aaron Nola and Alex Bregman tabbed All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball". Nola.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  6. ↑ Greater New Orleans (May 28, 2013). "Nola, Bregman lead five LSU players chosen to the All-SEC team". Nola.com. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Nola claims SEC Pitcher of the Year". TheAdvocate.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ "LSU's Aaron Nola is named the 2014 national Pitcher of the Year". NOLA.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "LSU's Aaron Nola one of three Golden Spikes finalists". TheNewOrleansAdvocate.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "LSU's Aaron Nola is a finalist for another player of the year award". NOLA.com. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Phillies select LSU righty Nola with No. 7 pick". Philadelphia Phillies. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ Phillies sign first-round pick Nola
  13. ↑ Popper, Daniel (August 2, 2014). "On fast track, top pick Nola elevated to Double-A". phillies.com: News. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Aaron Nola to make major-league debut Tuesday". Philly.com. July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Rarefied air: Karns' bat, arm lead Rays". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  16. 1 2 Zolecki, Todd (July 26, 2015). "Nola follows Hamels with first career victory: Rookie tosses 7 2/3 sharp innings a day after Phillies' ace's no-hitter". phillies.com: News. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  17. ↑ https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/aaron-nola-named-to-all-star-team/c-284891922
  18. ↑ Frank, Reuben (9 July 2018). "Nola". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  19. ↑ Frank, Reuben (9 July 2018). "OK,how about this one". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  20. ↑ Hotard, Scott (June 8, 2013). "LSU pitcher Aaron Nola making his own identity". TheAdvocate.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
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