Douglas Samuel Nikhazy (born August 11, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels.
Amateur career
Nikhazy grew up in Windermere, Florida. In eighth grade he was selected to the Under-15 United States national baseball team. Nikhazy attended West Orange High School, where he pitched and played right field on the baseball team. He committed to play college baseball at Ole Miss during his freshman year.
Nikhazy was named a freshman All-American after posting a 9-3 record and a 3.31 ERA with Ole Miss freshman record 86 strikeouts. After the season he was selected to play on the Team USA collegiate national baseball team. 3-1 record and 2.35 ERA with 31 strikeouts in four starts before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. He was named first team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) and was a consensus first team All-American as a junior after going 12-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 142 strikeouts over 92 innings pitched.
Professional career
Nikhazy was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the second round with the 58th overall pick of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. On July 23, 2021, Nikhazy signed with the Indians for a $1.2 million bonus. He made his professional debut in 2022 with the Lake County Captains of the High-A Midwest League. Nikhazy spent the 2023 campaign with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. In 26 appearances (22 starts) for the team, he compiled a 4-8 record and 4.94 ERA with 128 strikeouts over 102 innings of work.
Nikhazy split the 2024 campaign between Akron and the Triple–A Columbus Clippers, posting a cumulative 7–4 record and 2.98 ERA with 124 strikeouts across 123+2⁄3 innings pitched. On November 19, 2024, the Guardians added Nikhazy to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Nikhazy was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to begin the 2025 season. On April 26, 2025, Nikhazy was promoted to the major leagues for the first time as the 27th man for Cleveland's doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox.
Personal life
In February 2020, Nikhazy was arrested in Oxford, Mississippi for driving under the influence. He was released the same night of the arrest, issued an apology, and returned to the baseball team without missing any playing time.