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The MLB season is already nearly two weeks old and it’s time to reflect on how things are going in the NL Central. For the Cincinnati Reds at least, they have found two possible gems in the tandem of Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo. We’ve already heard about Hunter Greene, for that matter what baseball fan hasn’t heard about his hard throwing cannon arm in his second game as a Major League pitcher? But what about fellow rookie Nick Lodolo?
The call up to the Show has taken a more circuitous route for both Greene and Lodolo. Greene suffered through a Tommy John season in the minors in 2019 and the 2020 season minor league cancelation but both pitchers back really more than just one lost year. We have all by now heard the buzz about Greene and his 100+mph fastballs but Lodolo fits a very different mold and for both of these young hurlers they will need to find their niche on the Reds starting rotation.
Nick Lodolo comes into the 2022 season as the number two LHP prospect according to MLB and the Reds organization no doubt has high expectations from the former TCU pitcher. Lodolo won’t find his way to keeping a rotation spot with bringing heat all night long to opposing batters; while he can throw fastballs in the low to mid-90’s range, Lodolo has more of a pitching repertoire and already has been using it in his first two outings in the Big Leagues. Nick Lodolo already brings a size presence to the mound as he stands in at 6’6”. While Hunter Greene relies on the heat to get the job done, Nick Lodolo follows up with a good slider and changeup that can be deceptive and create more ground balls.
Nick Lodolo also brings good ball control and garnered a low walk ratio last season in AAA ball. The biggest question is a matter of professional experience as Lodolo missed out throwing in 2020 due to the Covid dumpster fire of a season and its cancelation. However, in 2021, Lodolo only threw for 50 2/3 innings and there may be questions about his longevity given the grind of the MLB season and being a part of a starting rotation. In Lodolo’s baptism by fire in the majors, he didn’t fare well in a 7-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians where he gave up five earned runs, seven hits and three walks and bowed out while leaving the Reds with a 5-0 score. Lodolo did earn one nod to success as he did strike out fellow rookie sensation Steven Kwan who hadn’t struck out since moving up to the Show and didn’t whiff during spring training.
Lodolo did fare better in his second outing against the Padres on the road this past Monday but still hasn’t chalked up a W quite yet. Lodolo gave up three earned runs and six hits while still being ahead in the count with 8 K’s compared to two walks. Lodolo was still charged with the 4-1 loss and will have to wait to his next outing to see if he can chalk up that first win in the majors and help solidify his position on the Reds starting rotation.
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