Prospect Spotlight: Nick Mikolajchak

Former Sam Houston State pitcher Nick Mikolajchak made the jump in 2019 from college ball to the professional ranks with an outstanding first season. A 2019, 11th round draft pick by the Cleveland Indians, Mikolajchak didn’t wait long to show the Indians that he was worth the pick.

At Sam Houston State, he helped the team to a Southland Conference Championship in 2018, and he followed up with a solid season with the Bearcats before the summer draft. Nick’s first pro assignment was the AZL Indians Blue, appearing in 4 games, 6 innings, allowing zero earned runs, striking out 12 and walking no one. The assignment was short, and he headed east to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Short season A, New York-Penn League), where he appeared in 13 games. In 19 innings for the Scrappers, Mikolajchak gave up 10 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks with 24 Ks. For the season, he threw 25 innings, striking out 36 while walking only 3, with a 0.36 ERA and 0.68 WHIP. He allowed just 14 hits, holding opposing batters to a .165 average.

Such a first year performance bodes well for the right hander, who may start the 2021 season with the Low-A Lynchburg Hillcats or the High-A Lake County Captains. Mikolajchak is not yet on the Indians top 30 prospects list, but it won’t be long before he’s up there.

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