The Cleveland Guardians have a deep pitching staff.
Both the rotation and the bullpen boast a myriad of options: some of them are experienced veterans, others are stars in their prime, and others are young rookies with dreams and high aspirations.
Left-handed Doug Nikhazy doesn’t just have big goals: he has the stuff and the command to back up his case to make the team.
He was highly successful in Double-A and Triple-A last year (2.98 ERA between the two levels) after switching from an over-the-top delivery to more of a three-quarter slot in the 2023-24 offseason.
With a strong spring training to this point (0.00 ERA in four frames) and the successful changes he implemented, he is now a better pitcher.
Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis says there is a path for Nikhazy to make the Opening Day roster if fellow lefty Erik Sabrowski isn’t healthy enough by Match 27.
“Willis said that if Nikhazy doesn’t win a spot in the rotation, he could break camp in the bullpen, with left-hander Erik Sabrowski limited because of a left hamstring injury. Sabrowski pitched well for Cleveland down the stretch and in the postseason last year,” team insider Paul Hoynes wrote.
Willis praised the southpaw and said he is vastly improved, to the point he can become an option to be among those 26 men making the team a few weeks from now.
“We saw him figure some things out in the second half of last season (at Columbus) and come into his own,” said Willis. “To see him carry that into two early outings in spring training (has been impressive).
Nikhazy, you could say, increased his ceiling.
He went from a backend starter with some control issues to having a legitimate chance to be a mid-rotation starter someday.
Basically, he put himself in the conversation for a major league roster spot with work and discipline.
NEXT: Guardians Starter Shows Off Elite Stuff In Tuesday's Outing
