Nick Christiani

Nicholas John Christiani

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.
• School Vanderbilt University
• High School Seton Hall Preparatory School
• Debut August 23, 2013
• Final Game May 10, 2014
• Born July 17, 1987 in Elizabeth, NJ USA

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Biographical Information

Nick Christiani pitched parts of two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds.

Christiani was Gatorade's New Jersey High School Player of the Year in 2005. As a college freshman at Vanderbilt, he was 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA. He had a 2-0, 2 saves, 2.29 record in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, fanning 39 in 35 1/3 innings. As a sophomore, he improved to 5-3, 4.11 but walked 36 in 70 innings as Vanderbilt's 4th-most-used starter after David Price, Mike Minor and Brett Jacobson. In the summer, he was 3-3 with 4 saves and a 1.88 ERA for the Orleans Cardinals of the elite Cape Cod League. Moving up to Vandy's #3 starter with Price gone, behind Minor and Caleb Cotham, Christiani was 6-3 with a 4.97 ERA. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 32nd round of the 2008 amateur draft but did not sign. He had a 6-6, 5.00 record in 2009, again behind Minor and Cotham. He was then chosen by the Cincinnati Reds in the 13th round of the 2009 amateur draft (the scout was Joe Katuska) and debuted the following year.

In 2010, Christiani was with the Dayton Dragons (1-0, a save, 3.86 in 7 games), Lynchburg Hillcats (1-3, 4 saves, 3.44, 11 walks in 52 1/3 innings over 38 games) and Carolina Mudcats (a run in 2 innings). He began 2011 with the Mudcats, going 2-0 with a 1.75 ERA and 3 saves in 20 games before earning a promotion to the AAA Louisville Bats in late May. He struggled at the higher level, going 2-3 with 7 saves, a 5.30 ERA and a .309 opponent average in 33 outings. That offseason, he was 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA in 12 games for Phoenix in the Arizona Fall League. He was invited to spring training with the Reds in 2012 but spent the entire year back with Louisville, going 2-5 with 4 saves and a 3.34 ERA in 54 outings. He tied Dane De La Rosa, Dusty Hughes, Travis Webb and Tim Wood for second in the International League in games pitched, three shy of leader Fernando Cabrera. He tied Webb for third in the Reds chain in appearances, behind Justin Freeman and Drew Hayes.

After spending most of 2013 with the Bats (6-5, 3 saves, 4.05 in 47 games), he was called up to the majors in late August when Jonathan Broxton went on the disabled list. He made his debut on August 23rd, against the Milwaukee Brewers, relieving Alfredo Simon with one on, two out and a 6-3 deficit in the top of the 8th. He walked Norichika Aoki on four pitches, then got Jean Segura to pop out. In the top of the 9th, he got Jonathan Lucroy, Logan Schafer and Jeff Bianchi in order, Schafer on a strikeout; Jack Hannahan batted for him in the bottom half. Christiani ultimately made 3 appearances that year (2.25 ERA in 4 innings), then made the team out of spring training in 2014, stumbling to a 5.54 ERA before a demotion in May. He was released in 2017, ending his career.

He later scouted for the Reds, signing Evan Kravetz.

Sources

• 2012 Reds Media Guide
• Vanderbilt bio

Related Sites

• Nick Christiani on mlb.com