Nico Zeglin Breaks Through with Pelicans

June 25, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft

After a stellar college season in 2023, Nico Zeglin was ready for his opportunity to play professional baseball with an MLB organization. He had just been named the 2023 Big West Pitcher of the Year with Long Beach State and expected a chance.

That chance would take almost a full year and many different stops in between to come to fruition.

“I was very shocked,” Zeglin said. “I felt I did enough to get drafted or at least sign right after the draft. When nothing happened, I was very shocked.”

After not hearing his name during the 2023 MLB Draft, Zeglin went to Colorado to pitch for the Rocky Mountain Vibes, a team in the Pioneer League. The league partners with MLB to help players get more opportunities with organizations.

The California native put up strong numbers last summer, posting a 3.03 ERA through six starts and 39 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. Still, Zeglin had to wait.

He had a few tryouts prior to the 2024 season with MLB organizations but was not immediately signed. His next opportunity came in the Mexican League with Olmecas de Tabasco.

“I talked to some people around me and they said ‘the best place to play is the highest competition,’” Zeglin said. “So I decided to play there.”

Zeglin pitched just one game in Mexico before getting his chance. He got a call from the Cubs, one of the teams he tried out for in the offseason, to pitch in the organization.

“It was almost like a huge sigh of relief knowing that the past year of me being indy ball, Mexico, a free agent, paid off,” Zeglin said. “Knowing that all the hard work I’ve put in, all the mornings I’ve woke up early to get a lift in, throwing into a net paid off because now I’ve made it to where I want to be.”

The 24-year-old appeared in his first game with the Pelicans on April 25^th, just 13 days after pitching his game in Mexico. He struck out the only batter he faced against the Lynchburg Hillcats, and has impressed since then.

Zeglin has been used in many different roles for Myrtle Beach this year and has excelled in all of them. Heading into the series against Fayetteville, the right-hander holds a 1.93 ERA through 11 bullpen appearances and two starts. He’s struck out 39 batters and walked only five through 28 innings.

After having to wait to get his opportunity, Zeglin is stepping up and has led the Pelicans’ pitching staff through the first half of the year as he awaits bigger chances in the future