Kyle Nicolas

Nicolas, acquired by the Pirates as part of the return for Jacob Stallings, has come through the minor leagues as a starter. However, there are a few reasons to be concerned about his potential to stick in that role. First, he relies heavily on a fastball-slider combo and has struggled to find a consistent third pitch. In addition, he has a 5.0 BB/9 across 130 total innings at Double-A across his time with both Miami and Pittsburgh. Given his potential to throw with premium velocity in short stints while possessing the classic pitch mix of a power-throwing reliever, that seems to be the role that Nicolas will likely find himself in upon reaching the majors. It's premature to project saves in his future, but the best-case scenario could be that Nicolas finds himself as a closer in Pittsburgh - or elsewhere - at points in his career.