'I've been excited': Reds pitching prospect Nick Lodolo will make MLB debut vs. Cleveland

Nick Lodolo traveled with the Cincinnati Reds to Atlanta for the first series of the season, but he wasn’t on the Opening Day roster, wasn’t on the field for the team introductions and had to watch all four games from the clubhouse as a member of the taxi squad.

What are a few more days when he’s preparing to complete a lifelong dream?

Lodolo, the No. 7 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, will make his Major League debut Wednesday at Great American Ball Park when the Reds complete their two-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.

"I’ve been excited," said Lodolo, who will have about 15-20 family members and friends at his debut. "I really just want to get out there, go out there and pitch, and that first one … it’s more you are anxious just to get out there and let’s do it."

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When Lodolo went inside the Reds' home clubhouse at GABP on Monday's off day, he took a photo of the nameplate above his locker and sent it to his dad. Lodolo was inside big-league clubhouses when he played at Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium as a high schooler, but this was the first Major League clubhouse with his name inside of it. 

"(My dad) was pretty excited about it too," said Lodolo, a La Verne, California native. "You grow up, you walk through and you were like, ‘Wow.’ Now, seeing your own, it’s pretty cool."

Lodolo, a consensus top-100 prospect, earned a spot in the rotation with a strong spring training camp. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound left-hander was dominant in the minor leagues last year with a 2.31 ERA in 13 starts at Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. He struck out 78 and walked 11 in 50 2/3 innings.

He was limited to 50 2/3 innings last season because of a blister issue on the pad of his left pointer finger and then he was shut down at the end of August because of a left shoulder strain. The Reds will be cautious with his number of innings this season, but that didn’t stop him from showing he was ready for the Major Leagues.

"Just being around him, it's a big deal, but similar to Hunter (Greene), they're really focused on doing well, not just being here," Reds Manager David Bell said. "We really believe he's prepared for it. The way he was attacking the strike zone, throwing strikes, using all of his pitches, he doesn't have to do anything different. That's going to be good enough."

Lodolo, 24, reported to minor-league mini-camp in mid-February and he showed he was healthy after last season's injuries. In four Cactus League outings, he allowed nine hits and three runs across 11 1/3 innings while striking out 12 and walking two.

The key, Lodolo said, was just showing that he was healthy. The Opening Day roster was out of his control, but he just wanted to make it a difficult decision for Bell and the Reds' front office. 

"He looked like a Major League pitcher," Bell said. "We know how talented he is."

Said Lodolo: "I was really confident. I think everything, at least on the mound, came together like it has been over the last year, year-and-a-half now."

Lodolo watched as teammates Greene, Daniel Duarte and Alexis Diaz made their Major League debuts over the past weekend. He spoke with Greene after his debut, picking up some advice from him. 

He wasn't sure if he'll look up at the crowd before he throws his first pitch. He imagines he might be so focused that he may not remember it if he does take a peek. He threw a 70-pitch simulated game Friday in Atlanta as a final tune-up for his first big-league start. 

If he does look into the crowd, he knows he'll have proud parents looking back at him. 

"They were excited like I’m sure everybody is," Lodolo said. "They were just proud of me and I’m sure they are proud of themselves. I mean, they sacrificed a lot to get me here."