Shorebirds Player Feature: Nick Vespi

Nick Vespi was born October 10, 1995 in Miami, Florida before moving to Ohio at a young age starting his baseball career at Eastwood High School. The left-handed ballplayer started off as a relief pitcher where in 2012, Vespi was named to ESPN’s HS-All Baseball Team as a sophomore.

Deciding to play junior college baseball at Palm Beach State, Vespi started his collegiate baseball career in 2014. After a positive freshman year of pitching in limited time, the Orioles decided to take a chance on the almost 19-year-old. Using an 18th round selection, the Baltimore Orioles drafted Vespi 553rd overall during the 2015 MLB Draft where shortly thereafter he inked a contract and was assigned to the Gulf Coast League (GCL).

2015 marked the start of Vespi's professional career in Florida playing for the Gulf Coast Orioles. Spending three seasons ('17, '18 & '19) on the shore with the Shorebirds, Vespi saw time on the bump both as a reliever and also a starter. In 2018, Vespi found his groove posting a 2.09 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP, both career highs in any of his pro seasons, all this while doubling his appearances in a season. Vespi’s success followed into 2019 where he had similar numbers for Delmarva again, putting up a 3.16 ERA and 1.12 WHIP racking up 8 wins in 23 games adding to an already lockdown pitching unit.

Due to the lockdown in 2020, Vespi did not participate in the shortened season, however, once minor league baseball returned, Vespi was back to his ways. As Vespi continued to develop his arm and rack up wins, the results ended up earning the left-hander a call up to Double-A and Triple-A in 2021. At 25 years-old, the relief pitcher made his AA debut for Bowie, starting in 2 games but appearing in 14 total before being assigned to the Norfolk Tides on July 27, 2021.

Vespi’s arm and poise helped him have an impactful minor league career with the Shorebirds and other Baltimore affiliates as he continues his upward trend just recently being named named an Arizona Fall League Rising Star for his duty as a pitcher. 6 years into his professional baseball career, the Miami native has proven that he is a talented minor league pitcher that Delmarva fans should continue to watch as Vespi continues his journey to Baltimore that all started right here on Delmarva.