Nick

Nastrini

Nastrini went unclaimed on waivers and has been officially removed from Los Angeles’ 40-man roster. The 25-year-old former pitching prospect was claimed off waivers from the Marlins earlier this month. He’ll remain stationed at Triple-A Oklahoma City as extra organizational relief depth.

Nastrini will be back in the organization where it all started after being waived twice in the past month. The 25-year-old was once a former top prospect, and now Los Angeles will have a chance to see if he can refind that frame.

Nastrini was claimed off waivers on July 1, and hits the waiver wire a little over a week later. A former top prospect, Nastrini could see interest again on the wire, but if not he’ll report back to Triple-A Jacksonville.

Nastrini represents a speculative pickup for the Marlins as he’ll head to Triple-A Jacksonville as organizational pitching depth. The 25-year-old righty hasn’t pitched in the majors this season after making nine appearances (eight starts) last year for the rebuilding White Sox.

White was claimed off waivers last month from the Yankees and will open the regular season back in the minors as extra organizational depth. He should get a look with Chicago at some point in the near future. Nastrini was hit extremely hard in nine appearances (eight starts) last year with the White Sox in his first taste of the big leagues.

Nastrini had been in the competition for the final spot in Chicago’s rotation, but it looks like the 25-year-old will begin the season in Charlotte’s rotation instead. Nastrini added velocity on his fastball this spring and seemed to show slightly better command than he did when he walked 5.51 batters per nine innings in Triple-A last year. If he can keep those command gains in Charlotte then there’s a chance he gets innings for the White Sox before the summer. His demotion means either Bryse Wilson or Shane Smith will open the season in the rotation.

Nastrini averaged 95.0 mph with his fastball today, up from 93.7 mph during his ugly major league stints last season. Even more impressive, his slider was all the way up to 88.4 mph, a gain of nearly four mph from last year. He entered camp as a long shot for a spot in the White Sox rotation, but he should be moving up the depth chart already.

Nastrini threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball Monday in what very well could have been his final appearance of 2024. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Dodgers last July in the Lance Lynn trade, and mostly struggled in 2024 with a 7.07 ERA and 1.91 WHIP over 35 2/3 innings. He’ll battle for a rotation spot next year with Chicago.

Nick Nastrini had been listed as the starting pitcher, so presumably he will work out of the bullpen behind Shuster. Both are risky fantasy options.

Nastrini fell to 0-7 with a 7.79 ERA when he lost to the Orioles on Tuesday. We figured he’d be sent down after that one, but he’ll stick as a middle man, it seems. The White Sox plan to use a bullpen game in Nastrini’s previously scheduled Monday start against the Guardians.