Nicolas Antoine

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 167 lb.

• Born October 15, 2001 in Longjumeau, Île-de-France France

BR register page

Biographical Information

Nicolas Antoine has played in the French Division I and for the French national team.

Antoine debuted in Division I with the 2018 La Rochelle Boucaniers, going 1-5 with a 20.25 ERA in 17 1/3 IP (28 BB, 31 H) as a 17-year-old. Interestingly, the two players he tied for 3rd in the league in losses were former major leaguers, Frank Mata and Harvey Garcia. The next year, he had a 4.91 ERA in six games pitched, mostly used as a position player (.138/.205/.138 in 27 G). The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In '21, he was 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA, 30 BB and 33 K in 27 IP while batting .171/.275/.229.

Despite having gone 1-8 in his Division I career to that point, French officials saw promise in the teenager, who made France's squad for the 2021 European Championship. He debuted in the 15th/16th place game, with France in danger of relegation to the B Pool for the first time in decades. He relieved fellow team rookie Gédéon Coste in the bottom of the 3rd with a 3-3 tie, two on and two out versus Slovakia and retired Adam Zacko on a grounder. He opened the 4th by walking Matej Grendža-Donský but then struck out veterans Martin Brunegraf and Tomáš Biskorovájny and got Mário Gottschall on a fly. He walked Michal Noga to open the 5th, then Denis Pakši grounded him over and a wild pitch sent the runner to third, while Antoine issued his third walk (to Matej Rudohradský) though he had not given up a hit. Esteban Prioul relieved and escaped that jam, while France needed extra innings to avoid an upset loss.