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Nick Loftin

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Nick Loftin
Loftin with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023
Kansas City Royals – No. 12
Infielder
Born: (1998-09-25) September 25, 1998 (age 26)
Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2023, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.229
Home runs1
Runs batted in24
Teams

Nicholas James Loftin (born September 25, 1998) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

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Loftin attended W. B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he played baseball.[1] As a senior in 2017, he batted .465 with three home runs alongside going 11–4 with a 1.10 ERA on the mound.[2] He originally committed to play college baseball at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, but later switched his commitment to Baylor University.[3] Undrafted in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Baylor.[4]

In 2018, Loftin's freshman year at Baylor, he appeared in 55 games (making 53 starts), batting .306 with six home runs and 36 RBIs, earning Freshman All-American honors alongside being named to the Big 12 Conference All-Second Team and All-Freshman Team.[5][6] As a sophomore in 2019, Loftin started 53 games in which he hit .323 with six home runs, 41 RBIs, and 18 doubles.[7][8] He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team.[9] That summer, he played for both the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League and for the United States collegiate national baseball team.[10][11][12][13][14] Prior to Loftin's junior year in 2020, he was named the Big 12 Conference Preseason Player of the Year.[15][16][17] Over 14 games for his junior season, he batted .298 with two home runs and 15 RBIs before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional career

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The Kansas City Royals selected Loftin with the 32nd overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[18] On June 23, 2020, Loftin signed with the Royals on a $3 million signing bonus.[19] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the pandemic.[20]

Loftin was assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Central for the 2021 season, slashing .289/.373/.463 with ten home runs and 57 RBIs over ninety games.[21] He was assigned to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League to begin the 2022 season.[22] In early August, he was promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A International League.[23] Over 128 games between the two teams, he slashed .254/.333/.403 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs.[24]

Loftin returned to Omaha to open the 2023 season.[25] In 82 games for Triple–A Omaha, he batted .270/.344/.444 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. On September 1, 2023, Loftin was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[26] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros.[27]

On May 31, 2024, Loftin pitched a scoreless ninth inning in relief during a blowout against the San Diego Padres.

References

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  1. ^ Hayward, Len. "Q&A with All-South Texas Baseball MVP Nick Loftin". Caller-Times.
  2. ^ https://www.iwacc.org/uploaded/images/Campus_News/2016-2017/Angels_in_the_News/2017-06-26_4C_IWA_Senior_Makes_All-South_Texas_Baseball_Team_CALLER.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ Burns, Ashlee. "HOMETOWN HEROES: Five Questions with Baylor's Nick Loftin". USA TODAY.
  4. ^ "Nick Loftin prides himself on team-first mindset". Baseball Prospect Journal. February 20, 2020.
  5. ^ "Baylor's Loftin named Baseball America freshman All-American". www.kwtx.com. July 12, 2018.
  6. ^ Staff report (July 11, 2018). "Loftin receives Baseball America freshman honors". WacoTrib.com.
  7. ^ CHERRY, BRICE (January 24, 2020). "Expectations haven't graduated for Baylor baseball". WacoTrib.com.
  8. ^ CHERRY, BRICE (April 11, 2019). "Can't keep him off the field: Baylor's easy come-easy go Loftin brings ample versatility". WacoTrib.com.
  9. ^ "All-Big 12 Baseball Awards". The Ada News. May 23, 2019.
  10. ^ Hayward, Len. "Ray grad and Baylor infielder Nick Loftin to play for USA Baseball select team". Caller-Times.
  11. ^ Staff report (June 18, 2019). "Baylor's Loftin gets his shot with USA Baseball". WacoTrib.com.
  12. ^ "GSA Spotlight: Nick Loftin". USA Baseball.
  13. ^ "Forty-One USA Baseball Alumni Selected in the 2020 MLB Draft". USA Baseball. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "Nick Loftin - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Martinez, Quinton. "Ray grad, Baylor infielder Nick Loftin named Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year". Caller-Times.
  16. ^ "Led by Nick Loftin, Baylor baseball is a legitimate Big 12 and NCAA tournament contender | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  17. ^ "Baylor shortstop Nick Loftin headlines Preseason All-Big 12 team". kcentv.com. January 29, 2020.
  18. ^ CHERRY, BRICE (June 11, 2020). "Loftin's 'so surreal' draft moment preceded by plenty of nerves". WacoTrib.com.
  19. ^ Staff report (June 23, 2020). "Ex-Baylor SS Loftin signs with Royals". WacoTrib.com.
  20. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Cancelled". MiLB.com.
  21. ^ "Royals announce Minor League rosters". MLB.com.
  22. ^ "First Round Pick Asa Lacy Headlines the Naturals 2022 Roster".
  23. ^ "Royals' Nick Loftin: Bumped up to Triple-A". August 9, 2022.
  24. ^ "Nick Loftin Stats, Fantasy & News".
  25. ^ "Where Royals top prospects are starting 2023 season". MLB.com.
  26. ^ "Royals' Nick Loftin: Debuting as designated hitter". cbssports.com. September 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "Here are the 2023 Arizona Fall League rosters". MLB.com.
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