Can the righthander find his rhythm after a season of shuttles and struggles?
Nick Nastrini
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
6´3´´
215 pounds
Age: 25
2024 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking 6
2024 High Level Chicago (MLB)
Age relative to high level -5.0 years
SSS rank among all right-handed starters in the system 7
Overall 2024 stats 3-16 ⚾️ 30 starts ⚾️ 120 2⁄3 IP ⚾️ 5.29 ERA (MiLB)/7.07 (MLB) ⚾️ 1.588 WHIP (MiLB)/1.907 (MLB) ⚾️ 124 K ⚾️ 88 BB ⚾️ Simple WAR -0.5 ⚾️ BWAR -0.8
Chicago acquired Nick Nastrini in the July 2023 trade that sent Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Boys in Blue had drafted Nastrini out of UCLA in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. At the time of the swap, MLB.com ranked the righthander as the No. 9 prospect in the Dodgers organization.
After the trade, the Sox sent Nastrini to Double-A Birmingham, where he quickly earned a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte. He spent the remainder of 2023 with the Knights, where he amassed a 4.12 ERA in four starts, a 1.017 WHIP, and an impressive 10.9 K/9.
With the encouraging output in the bandbox of Charlotte in 2023, the South Siders invited the righthander to big league camp for 2024. After an impressive spring where he earned a 3.77 ERA in five appearances, he returned to the Knights with the majors in short sight. Not quite a month later, Chicago came calling, and Nastrini made his big league debut on April 13.
Although Nastrini took the loss, he surrendered only two runs and struck out five over five innings of work. It wasn’t too shabby for his first start on an already terrible team.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t destined for longevity with the major league club. The 2024 season was defined by inconsistency, and him shuttling back and forth four different times between the Queen City and the Windy City. I hope at least he racked up some frequent flyer miles.
Nastrini’s Baseball Cube player ratings
Strikeouts 73
vsPower 72
Hittable 72
Durability 59
K/BB 43
Walks 29
Average 49.71
After going 0-7 with a 7.07 ERA with the White Sox last year, it’s a reset season for Nastrini. He has the stuff to be a big league starter, but he has to harness his control of the zone. He doesn’t blow batters away with a fastball that sits 92-94 mph, but with a complete four-pitch mix he has proven he can get batters out. Nastrini’s arsenal also includes a mid-80s slider with high spin, a 78-83 mph curveball, and a mid-80s changeup. The slider has the potential to be a plus pitch, but he has difficulty consistently repeating his delivery.
Perhaps without the pressure of winning expectations, Nastrini can work through some of his growing pains and come out the other end a strong contender for a position in the White Sox starting rotation.
2025 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox Prospects
21. Nick Nastrini, RHSP
22. Blake Larson, LHSP
23. Tyler Schweitzer, LHSP
24. Alexander Albertus, 3B
25. Wilfred Veras, RF
26. Seth Keener, RHSP
27. William Bergolla, 2B
28. Samuel Zavala, CF
29. Peyton Pallette, RHRP
30. Jake Eder, LHSP
31. Juan Carela, RHSP
32. Javier Mogollón, SS
33. Nick McLain, RF
34. Ronny Hernandez, C
35. Casey Saucke, RF
36. Eric Adler, RHRP
37. Rikuu Nishida, 2B
38. Shane Smith, RHSP
39. Tim Elko, 1B
40. Zach DeLoach, LF
41. Riley Gowens, RHSP
42. Prelander Berroa, RHRP
43. Sam Antonacci, 2B
44. Adisyn Coffey, RHRP
45. Jarold Rosado, RHRP
46. Ryan Galanie, 1B
47. Trey McGough, LHRP
48. Ricardo Brizuela, RHSP
49. Lucas Gordon, LHSP
50. Aaron Combs, RHRP (traded to Phillies on January 1)
51. DJ Gladney, RF
52. Abraham Núñez, CF
53. Andre Lipcius, 1B
54. Shawn Goosenberg, 1B
55. Caden Connor, 1B
56. Mario Camilletti, 2B
57. Jake Peppers, RHSP
58. Ryan Burrowes, SS
59. Garrett Schoenle, LHRP
60. Jackson Appel, C
61. Tommy Vail, LHSP
62. Bryce Collins, RHRP
63. Tanner McDougal, RHSP
64. Stiven Flores, C
65. T.J. McCants, CF
66. Gil Luna, LHRP
67. Fraser Ellard, LHRP
68. Zach Franklin, RHRP
69. Drew Dalquist, RHRP
70. Nick Altermatt, RHRP
71. Carson Jacobs, RHRP
72. Alec Makarewicz, 1B
73. Jacob Burke, CF
74. Calvin Harris, C
75. Terrell Tatum, CF
76. Phil Fox, RHRP
77. Reudis Diaz, RHSP
78. Jurdrick Profar, SS
79. Drew McDaniel, RHSP
80. Michael Turner, C
81. Caleb Freeman, RHRP
82. Braden Shewmake, SS (designated for assignment on January 1, claimed by Royals)
83. Connor McCullough, RHSP
84. Shane Murphy, LHSP
85. Mikey Kane, 1B
86. Daniel González, LHRP
87. Wes Kath, 3B
88. Pierce George, RHRP
89. Tristan Stivors, RHRP
90. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHRP
91. Chase Plymell, RHRP
92. Eddie Park, CF
93. Loidel Chapelli, 2B
94. Adam Hackenberg, C
95. Adrian Gil, 1B
96. Jared Kelley, RHRP
97. Lyle Miller-Green, 1B
98. Marcelo Alcala, RF
99. Drake Logan, LF
100. Cole McConnell, CF