GOODYEAR, Ariz. \u2014 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\u2019s no one who creates the shocked and awed facial expressions from hitters that Lodolo does when he gets a big swing and miss. <\/p>\n
The most memorable moment of Lodolo\u2019s 2025 season was the look on the face of Shohei Ohtani after he struck out for the third time against the left-hander. <\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of guys are like, \u2018Woah,\u2019\u201d Andrew Abbott said. \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s not a lot that can\u2019t be said about him. He deserves everything he will get. When he\u2019s healthy, everyone has seen how dominant he can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those in the game know how impressive Lodolo\u2019s skill set is. He was offered a place on Team USA in the WBC, and he\u2019s viewed 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a lot of limbs coming at you,\u201d new Reds reliever Pierce Johnson said. \u201cHe has a bit of a funky delivery. He punches out a lot of guys. He\u2019s one of those guys who\u2019s fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lodolo\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe has really transformed his game into an All-Star caliber player,\u201d said Brandon Williamson, who has been one of Lodolo\u2019s close friends since college. \u201cHe 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\u2019ve ever seen out of him. He knows what\u2019s at stake. He knows that he\u2019ll see the rewards of his efforts. It\u2019s been really fun to watch him up his game even more.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s really just one question left with Lodolo: Can he put the blister issue behind him? <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cWith the way I throw my slider, it\u2019s something that comes with it,\u201d Lodolo said. \u201cAt the same time, I\u2019m not going to change it. That pitch makes me myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lodolo\u2019s 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\u2019s slider is on that day, then it\u2019s a pretty safe bet that he\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat (slider) is what makes me really good,\u201d Lodolo said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to compromise that. I obviously want to make sure I\u2019m on the field. But at the same time, I want to make sure I\u2019m at my best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lodolo has tried to make the skin on that left index finger tougher by filing it. He has learned, \u201cThe toughness of the skin isn\u2019t a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the words of Derek Johnson, Lodolo\u2019s fingers are \u201cnaturally moist.\u201d That plus Lodolo\u2019s grip isn\u2019t an ideal combination. <\/p>\n
\u201cI sweat a lot in my hands,\u201d Lodolo said. \u201cThey\u2019re 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\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued, \u201cPeople say make your hands tougher. If you look at my finger, I have a callous on it. That\u2019s obviously not the solution. I don\u2019t know what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lodolo has tried a few different strategies over the years. A new one, he says, is \u201csome laser stuff that might be able to help. A red light type thing that helps skin growth.\u201d <\/p>\n
If he can put the blister issue behind him, there\u2019s nothing stopping him from becoming one of the better left-handed pitchers in the game on a consistent basis. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe goes about his business very professionally,\u201d Abbott said. \u201cI know who he is. One of the best things about him is he\u2019s going to go out there and prove it. That speaks way louder than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
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