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Jacob Nix

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Jacob Nix
Nix with the Orix Buffaloes in 2023
Lake Country DockHounds
Pitcher
Born: (1996-01-09) January 9, 1996 (age 28)
Los Alamitos, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 10, 2018, for the San Diego Padres
NPB: April 9, 2023, for the Orix Buffaloes
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record2–5
Earned run average7.02
Strikeouts21
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average10.50
Strikeouts5
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
18U Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2013 Taichung Team

Jacob James Nix (born January 9, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes.

Nix was picked by the Houston Astros in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB draft out of Los Alamitos High School. They agreed on an above slot signing bonus, which the Astros were unable to pay when first round pick Brady Aiken refused to sign, which lowered their bonus pool. He went unsigned himself, and attended the IMG Academy, and was then drafted by the Padres in the third round of the 2015 MLB draft.

Amateur career

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Nix grew up playing youth baseball as a catcher. He was involved in a home plate collision at the age of 11 that led to chronic pain in his back, and required spinal fusion surgery, which he had at the age of 12.[1] He grew up a Cardinals fan.[2]

Nix attended Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California, and played for their baseball team. He played as a catcher until his freshman year, when he was needed as a pitcher.[3] In his junior year, Nix pitched to a 7–2 win–loss record with a 2.80 earned run average (ERA), and was named to the Press-Telegram's all-area first team.[4] He committed to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on a college baseball scholarship to play for the UCLA Bruins baseball team. At the start of his senior year of high school, Nix played for the United States national baseball team in the 2013 18U Baseball World Cup.[5] The United States won the gold medal in the event.[6] By the start of his senior season, his fastball velocity ranged from 92 to 95 miles per hour (148 to 153 km/h).[7]

The Houston Astros selected Nix in the fifth round, with the 136th overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. Nix and the Astros agreed to terms on a contract, including a $1.5 million signing bonus, well above the $370,500 recommended at the 136th slot.[6] However, the Astros failed to come to terms with Brady Aiken, the first overall selection of the draft, which reduced their allotted draft pool, leaving them unable to sign Nix without incurring penalties. The Astros reneged on their agreements with Nix and Mac Marshall,[8] and offered Nix a $616,165 signing bonus, which was the most the Astros could offer him without incurring penalties. Nix rejected the offer.[3][9] He filed a grievance against the Astros,[10] which put his collegiate eligibility in jeopardy.[3] The two sides reached a settlement in December, but did not disclose the terms.[11]

Rather than wait for a ruling on his collegiate eligibility, Nix opted to take a post-graduate year at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, to play for their baseball team.[12] In this way, he became eligible for the 2015 MLB draft.[13] After watching him throw for scouts, Keith Law, a draft expert for ESPN, wrote that he believes Nix could be a first-round pick.[14] In ten starts for the IMG Academy, Nix improved his fastball velocity to 95 to 97 miles per hour (153 to 156 km/h), improved his changeup, and developed a curveball.[9]

Professional career

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San Diego Padres

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Nix did not consent to being reselected by the Astros in the 2015 draft.[3] The San Diego Padres selected Nix in the third round, with the 86th overall selection, of the draft.[15] He signed with the Padres, receiving a $900,000 signing bonus.[16] Nix was assigned to the Arizona League Padres, where he spent the whole season, pitching to a 0–2 record with a 5.49 ERA in seven games. In 2016, Nix pitched for the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Single–A Midwest League,[17] where he posted a 3–7 record with a 3.93 ERA.[18]

Nix spent the 2017 season with both the Lake Elsinore Storm of the High–A California League[19] and the San Antonio Missions of the Double–A Texas League, where he went a combined 5–5 with a 4.67 ERA between both teams.[20] In 2018, the Padres invited Nix to spring training.[16] Nix made nine starts for San Antonio, pitching to a 2.05 ERA, and then made one start for the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, not allowing a run, before the Padres decided to promote Nix to the major leagues to make his debut on August 10.[21] He made nine starts, going 2–5 in 42+1⁄3 innings and a 7.02 ERA. Nix suffered a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in March 2019. He elected to rehab the injury and forgo surgery.[22] Nix returned to game action on July 26, and made rehab appearances for the AZL Padres, Lake Elsinore, the Amarillo Sod Poodles, and El Paso.[23][24] Following the 2019 season, Nix made one appearance for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League.[25] Nix was designated for assignment on November 4, and sent outright to El Paso on November 11.[26]

Nix did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] In 2021, Nix suffered an elbow injury in spring training that required Tommy John surgery.[28][29] He underwent the surgery in mid-March. He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.

Orix Buffaloes

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On December 29, 2022, Nix signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball.[30] He made two appearances for Orix in 2023, allowing seven runs on seven hits with five strikeouts across six innings pitched. Nix became a free agent following the 2023 season.

Lake Country DockHounds

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On December 6, 2024, Nix signed with the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[31]

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On October 6, 2019, Nix was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing, having allegedly broken into a house in Peoria, Arizona, through a doggy door. An inebriated Nix was kicked in the face and tased by the homeowner prior to Nix fleeing, and was arrested by local police not far from the scene.[32]

References

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  1. ^ Trevino, Chris (June 4, 2014). "Downey's Gabriel Llanes, Los Alamitos' Jake Nix on verge of realizing dream". Press-Telegram. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  2. ^ Nightengale, Bob (June 1, 2015). "A year after million-dollar payday vanished, Jacob Nix set for MLB draft". USA Today. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Apstein, Stephanie (March 31, 2015). "Rejected by Astros, Jacob Nix hopes for better in 2015 MLB draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  4. ^ Trevino, Chris (March 25, 2014). "Senior pitcher Jacob Nix looking to lead talented Los Alamitos baseball". Press-Telegram. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  5. ^ Sondheimer, Eric (September 3, 2013). "Baseball: Jacob Nix helps USA 18U team defeat Cuba, 6–5". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  6. ^ a b McTaggart, Brian (June 17, 2014). "Astros reach deal with fifth-round Draft pick Nix". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Sondheimer, Eric (January 27, 2014). "Baseball: Jacob Nix is rising fast as a pitcher for Los Alamitos". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  8. ^ Drellich, Evan (March 31, 2015). "Jacob Nix tells his side of Astros' draft drama". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Nightengale, Bob (June 1, 2015). "A year after million-dollar payday vanished, Jacob Nix set for MLB draft". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  10. ^ Drellich, Evan (August 20, 2014). "Jacob Nix focus of draft grievance against Astros". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  11. ^ Heyman, Jon (December 15, 2014). "Astros and Nix, a top draftee whose deal was canceled, reach settlement". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  12. ^ Lara-Cinisomo, Vince (January 12, 2015). "Jacob Nix Enrolls At IMG Academy". Baseball America. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  13. ^ Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (January 12, 2015). "Jacob Nix to go back into 2015 draft". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  14. ^ Law, Keith (February 13, 2015). "Jacob Nix showing first-round potential". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  15. ^ "Baseball: Pitcher Jacob Nix goes in third round to Padres". Los Angeles Times. June 9, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Harmon, Brett (February 2018). "Jacob Nix on the Rise, Heading into First Big League Camp". East Village Times. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  17. ^ Sanders, Jeff (May 14, 2016). "Minors: Jacob Nix perfect for Fort Wayne". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  18. ^ "Jacob Nix Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  19. ^ Lin, Dennis (June 6, 2017). "Jacob Nix stars for Lake Elsinore". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  20. ^ "Jacob Nix Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  21. ^ Cassavell, AJ (August 8, 2018). "Padres promoting Nix to start Friday". MLB.com. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  22. ^ Cassavell, AJ (March 20, 2019). "Nix to miss 2 months with strained UCL". MLB.com. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  23. ^ Sanders, Jeff (September 12, 2019). "Minors: Jacob Nix rocked in final rehab start". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  24. ^ "Padres' Jacob Nix: Moves rehab to Triple-A". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. August 19, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  25. ^ Axisa, Mike (October 10, 2019). "Padres' Jacob Nix tased, charged with criminal trespassing after breaking into Arizona home through doggie door". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  26. ^ Sanders, Jeff (November 15, 2019). "Padres' Jacob Nix outrighted to Triple-A El Paso; Eric Yardley claimed". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  27. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  28. ^ Adams, Steve (March 10, 2021). "Padres' Jacob Nix Suffers Elbow Injury; Tommy John Surgery Possible". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  29. ^ "Padres' Jacob Nix: On mend from Tommy John surgery". CBS Sports. RotoWire. June 2, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  30. ^ 【オリックス】メジャー１０７発ゴンザレス獲得　吉田正尚の穴にＷＳ優勝経験者　先発右腕にニックスも大筋合意 [[Orix] Acquires Gonzalez, who has hit 107 home runs in the majors; the former World Series champion fills the gap left by Masahiro Yoshida; the Knicks also reach a basic agreement on the right-handed starting pitcher]. Hochi News (in Japanese). December 29, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  31. ^ "2024 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  32. ^ Ong, Jermaine (October 10, 2019). "Peoria, Arizona police: Padres pitcher Jacob Nix kicked, tased by homeowner after break-in". ABC 10 News. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
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