Checking in with Nick Lodolo, one of the most talented lefties in the game

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — There are pitchers on the Cincinnati Reds who have more velocity than Nick Lodolo, pitchers who strike out more guys and pitchers who have more awards. But there’s no one who creates the shocked and awed facial expressions from hitters that Lodolo does when he gets a big swing and miss.

The most memorable moment of Lodolo’s 2025 season was the look on the face of Shohei Ohtani after he struck out for the third time against the left-hander.

“A lot of guys are like, ‘Woah,’” Andrew Abbott said. “It’s a very surprising look. (Lodolo) has that stuff. He had the best hitter in the game getting fooled. He does that to quite a lot of people. There’s not a lot that can’t be said about him. He deserves everything he will get. When he’s healthy, everyone has seen how dominant he can be.”

Those in the game know how impressive Lodolo’s skill set is. He was offered a place on Team USA in the WBC, and he’s viewed around the league as one of the most talented lefties in the game. Last year, Lodolo posted a 3.33 ERA in 29 appearances and ranked 35th in MLB in pitcher WAR.

“He has a lot of limbs coming at you,” new Reds reliever Pierce Johnson said. “He has a bit of a funky delivery. He punches out a lot of guys. He’s one of those guys who’s fun to watch.”

Lodolo’s big league career has followed a pretty straightforward thesis statement: When he has been healthy, he has been very, very good.

He had a dominant stretch as a rookie in 2022, was off to an even better start in 2023 before a calf injury in April took hold of his season, was a true frontline starting pitcher in 2024 before suffering a finger injury and then had a career year in 2025.

“He has really transformed his game into an All-Star caliber player,” said Brandon Williamson, who has been one of Lodolo’s close friends since college. “He worked really hard this offseason. I got to watch it all first-hand. The effort that he put in and the mental focus is probably the most that I’ve ever seen out of him. He knows what’s at stake. He knows that he’ll see the rewards of his efforts. It’s been really fun to watch him up his game even more.”

There’s really just one question left with Lodolo: Can he put the blister issue behind him?

He dealt with it as a prospect in 2021. In 2024, the blister led to the least consistent stretch of his season as it prevented him from spinning his breaking ball as well as he could. He made an adjustment, put more pressure on a different finger and then suffered a season-ending finger injury as a result. In 2025, the blister issue was the reason for a stint on the IL that lasted most of August.

“With the way I throw my slider, it’s something that comes with it,” Lodolo said. “At the same time, I’m not going to change it. That pitch makes me myself.”

Lodolo’s slider is the pitch that generates those amazed facial expressions. Outside of Chris Sale, there might not be a lefty in the game with an offering like it. If you can tell in the first inning that Lodolo’s slider is on that day, then it’s a pretty safe bet that he’s going to have a very good start.

Last season, batters hit .195 against that pitch and whiffed on 40% of their swings. The problem is that his slider grip can aggravate the blister issue.

“That (slider) is what makes me really good,” Lodolo said. “I don’t want to compromise that. I obviously want to make sure I’m on the field. But at the same time, I want to make sure I’m at my best.”

Lodolo has tried to make the skin on that left index finger tougher by filing it. He has learned, “The toughness of the skin isn’t a part of it.”

In the words of Derek Johnson, Lodolo’s fingers are “naturally moist.” That plus Lodolo’s grip isn’t an ideal combination.

“I sweat a lot in my hands,” Lodolo said. “They’re sweaty. I use the rosin bag a ton to try to combat that. But there are other guys who definitely sweat as much as I do. It’s just the way I hold (the pitch). You get humid days and moisture in your hand and combine that with the leather. I put a lot of pressure on my finger throwing the ball. Ripping it, over time, (the blister) builds up.”

He continued, “People say make your hands tougher. If you look at my finger, I have a callous on it. That’s obviously not the solution. I don’t know what it is.”

Lodolo has tried a few different strategies over the years. A new one, he says, is “some laser stuff that might be able to help. A red light type thing that helps skin growth.”

If he can put the blister issue behind him, there’s nothing stopping him from becoming one of the better left-handed pitchers in the game on a consistent basis.

“He goes about his business very professionally,” Abbott said. “I know who he is. One of the best things about him is he’s going to go out there and prove it. That speaks way louder than anything.”