• Full name Timothy James Nichols
  • Born 06/24/2002 in Carmichael, CA
  • Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 189 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School Arizona
  • Drafted in the 6th round (183rd overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023 (signed for $304,800).
    View Draft Report
    School: Arizona Source: 4YR

    Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
    Age At Draft: 21.1
    BA Grade:45/Extreme
    Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 40.

    Nichols ranked as the No. 111 prospect in the 2020 class as a converted shortstop who showed a ton of natural arm strength. He made it to campus at Arizona, where he has continued to develop into a power righthander and consistently sits in the upper 90s. Listed at 6-foot-5, 189 pounds, Nichols has exceptional pure stuff and arm talent but has never translated that into great success with Arizona. He’s posted an ERA of 4.77 or higher in each season and in 2023 as a split starter and reliever he posted an 8.27 ERA over 57.2 innings, with an 18.7% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate. Nichols averages 95-96 mph on his fastball and has been up to 99, but the pitch has always played down thanks to average life and below-average command. Opposing batters hit .354/.493/.628 against the pitch this spring, but he still threw it almost 60% of the time. He throws a mid-80s slider as his go-to secondary offering, and the pitch has solid bite and late turn at times. He’s mixed in a mid-80s changeup as well, but used the pitch just 6% of the time in 2023. He’s likely a reliever given his two-pitch mix and control, but there’s a chance he can find more success with a pro team that can get a bit more wiggle on his fastball or help him throw strikes more consistently.

Top Rankings

Draft Prospects

Career Transactions

  • Tampa Bay Rays signed RHP T.J. Nichols.
  • RHP T.J. Nichols assigned to Arizona Wildcats.

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