Rod Nichols

Pitching Coach

Rod Nichols, 44, has been at the controls of the pitching staff of Philadelphia’s top farm club since 2005 and enters his 11th consecutive season as a coach in the system. Nichols’ staff was one of the top units in the I.L. last season, finishing with a collective 3.80 ERA – fifth best in the 14-team league. Additionally, Nichols played in instrumental role in the continued development of a pair of young starting pitchers, Drew Carpenter and Kyle Kendrick. Carpenter began the season with a 7-1 mark and finished the year with a team-record 11 wins and the I.L.’s sixth-best ERA (3.35). Teaming with Carpenter at the top of the rotation, Kendrick regained his first-half form of 2008 with the IronPigs last season, going 9-7 with a 3.34 ERA – which was good for the league’s fifth-best mark. A year earlier, Nichols was given significant credit for his role in helping RHP Brett Myers turn around his season. In addition, the Lehigh Valley relief corps was as consistent as any unit in the I.L. and finished the season with an impressive collective 3.38 ERA. Nichols’ veteran group was guided by LHP Cedrick Bowers (1.93 ERA and 5 saves in 48 relief appearances), RHP Mike Koplove (1.14 ERA and 6 saves in 21 relief appearances before being granted his relief June 1) and RHP Tyler Walker (1.40 ERA and 3 saves in 15 games prior to a mid-season promotion to Philadelphia). Nichols began his coaching career in 2000 as pitching coach for Piedmont (Low-A, South Atlantic League) and rapidly advanced through the system, moving to Lakewood in 2001 and to Reading (AA) from 2002-04. His progression to the Triple-A level in 2005 coincided with Rich Dubee’s promotion to Philadelphia that same year. Originally drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 1987 draft, Nichols made his Major League debut with the Indians in 1988. Throughout a 12-year professional career, Nichols appeared in the Major Leagues with Cleveland (1988-93), Los Angeles (1993) and Atlanta (1995) and compiled a career record of 11-31 with a 4.43 ERA in 100 games and 48 starts. The Burlington, Iowa, native concluded his professional playing career overseas in Japan -- pitching for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in 1997.