Miami Marlins Season in Review: Nick Neidert

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 59 of 286. Stay tuned.

Nicolas William Neidert is a 6’1″, 180 lb. right-handed starting pitcher from Atlanta, GA. Born on November 20th, 1996, he was drafted in the second round of the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft by the Seattle Mariners, with the 60th pick off the board out of Peachtree Ridge High. You can follow him on Twitter @NickNeidert.

20-of-54 players drafted 60th overall have thus far appeared at the major league level. Led by Fred Lynn (1970, New York Yankees, 50.2 career WAR), Steve Garvey (1966, Minnesota Twins, 38.1 WAR), and Lynn McGlothen (1968, Boston Red Sox, 14.3 WAR), Neidert hopes to be the 21st.

After his selection, Neidert signed with the Mariners for a $1,200,000 bonus and reported to the Arizona Mariners, in the rookie-level Arizona League. In 11 games he posted a 1.53 ERA, striking out 23 in 35 innings and racking up a 0.96 WHIP.

Moved up two levels in 2016 to the single-A Clinton LumberKings in the Midwest League, Neidert, then ranked as the Mariners #5 prospect, made 19 rotational starts. He posted a 7-3 record, a 2.57 ERA, and a 0.97 WHIP, with 69 K’s in 91 frames. He was named to the Baseball America Low-A All-Star team.

In 2017, Neidert split his time between the high-A Modesto Nuts in the California League (CAL) and the double-A Arkansas Travelers in the Texas League. He was better with the Nuts, but totaled an 11-6 record with a 3.45 ERA between the two. He also figured out how to make guys miss a little better, with 122 whiffs in 127 2/3 innings. His 1.17 WHIP didn’t hurt either. For his efforts, he was named to a lot of all-star teams. Namely, the mid-season all-star team, the MILB.COM Organizational all-star team, the BA hi-A team, and the post-season all-star team. He was also named as the CAL Pitcher of the Year.

On December 7th, Neidert, along with Robert Dugger and Christopher Torres, joined the Miami Marlins organization for Dee Gordon and international slot money. Although he was still just 21-years-old, he spent the entire campaign in the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp rotation, in the double-A Southern League.

More from Marlins Prospects

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• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 2
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 1

Neidert, then Miami’s 10th ranked prospect, started 26 times through the season, going 12-7 with a 3.24 ERA to lead the Miami Marlins organization in victories. In 152 2/3 innings, he struck out 154 while walking only 31, held opponents to a 1.13 WHIP, and finished with a 3.24 ERA. According to the MLB Pipeline:

Neidert may pitch with average velocity, topping out at 92-93 mph, but his fastball plays consistently above that grade due to its late movement. He’s already adept at commanding the pitch, while his cross-body delivery allows it to jump on hitters on both sides of the plate. Neidert’s changeup, a plus pitch, is his best secondary weapon and represents an ideal complement to his fastball, and he also has good feel for an average breaking ball.

On May 17th, Neidert struck out 11 batters and earned a win in a 7-3 win over the Mobile BayBears, allowing just two hits in 6 2/3 innings. On July 2nd, in a hard-luck 1-0 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits, he struck out seven and allowed four hits and one unearned run in eight innings of work. On August 4th, in his best start of the season (according to his 82 GameScore), he struck out 13 in eight innings, surrendering one run on five hits and zero walks. Neidert was named the Miami Marlins minor league Pitcher of the Year.

, but the organization wisely held their cards, protecting another year of eligibility. Neidert is arguably major league ready, despite not-yet turning 22. It’s possible that with a good Spring Training, he may break camp with the Marlins parent club.

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