West Orange High alum Doug Nikhazy makes MLB debut

The former Windermere Little Leaguer pitched three innings for the Cleveland Guardians in a 7-3 home loss to the Boston Red Sox.

By Sam Albuquerque
| 1:00 p.m. April 29, 2025

Sports

Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitcher Doug Nikhazy, a West Orange High alum, made his MLB debut against the Boston Red Sox April 26, striking out three batters across three innings of action in the 7-3 home loss.

After making the jump to the Guardians’ Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, in July, the former Windermere Little Leaguer appeared in 18 games across two seasons for the Clippers, pitching 93.2 innings with an opposition batting average of .201, an ERA of 3.19 and 97 strikeouts.

Nikhazy, a second-round selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, got the call up to the Big Leagues April 24, following four appearances for the Clippers. Following his debut against Boston (16-14), the 25-year-old was optioned by the Guardians (15-13) and rejoined Triple-A Columbus April 27.

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Sam Albuquerque

A native of João Pessoa, Brazil, Sam Albuquerque moved in 1997 to Central Florida as a kid. After earning a communications degree in 2016 from the University of Central Florida, he started his career covering sports as a producer for a local radio station, ESPN 580 Orlando. He went on to earn a master’s degree in editorial journalism from Northwestern University, before moving to South Carolina to cover local sports for the USA Today Network’s Spartanburg Herald-Journal. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his lovely wife, Sarah, newborn son, Noah, and dog named Skulí.