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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona
Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall today announced the acquisition of RHP Kyle Nicolas from the Pirates in exchange for INF/OF Tyler Callihan.
Nicolas, who turned 27 on February 22, split the 2025 season between the Pirates and AAA-Indianapolis, pitching to a 1-2 record with a 4.74 ERA in 31 appearances with Pittsburgh and a 2-2 record with a 3.79 ERA in 30 games (1 start) for Indianapolis. He is expected to pitch Italy in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Originally selected by the Marlins in the Competitive Balance B Round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Nicolas has pitched in 86 games across 3 Major League seasons with the Pirates (2023-25).
Nicolas pitched in 51 games for the Pirates in 2024, finishing 20 games with no saves. He struck out 55 batters in 54 2/3 innings but walked 33. He posted a 3.95 ERA. Last season, Nicolas finished five games in his 31 appearances.
A native of Massillon, Ohio, Nicolas attended Jackson High School, where as a senior in 2017 was named Prep Baseball Report’s Ohio Player of the Year after pitching to an 8-0 record with 0.50 ERA and 78 strikeouts, helping the Polar Bears to a state title.
Callihan, 25, made his Major League debut with the Reds this past season, appearing in 4 games before suffering a season-ending, left-forearm fracture on May 5 at Atlanta. Originally selected by the Reds in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft, he entered the 2026 season rated by both MLB.com and Baseball America as the organization's 19th-best prospect.
"Tyler Callihan is a guy that we really liked," Krall said. "We drafted him he came through our system. We felt the need to get a power arm, a guy who could pitch at the back of the bullpen. We felt it was a move we had to make for now and in the future. Four pitches, he has the chance to have four pitches and give you multiple innings."
The Pirates have asked about Callihan in the past and the Reds have mentioned Nicolas in discussions prior to the trade.
"We worked around it for awhile it was something that we were able to do," Krall said. "We have a lot of guys competing for the last couple spots in the bullpen but we also know that we are going to have to build our bullpen, year in and year out. We have a group of guys, who are going to be free agents in that pen. We look at this move for now and beyond this year."
The Reds infield depth is such that Callihan could be moved with little effect on the balance of the roster.
"We have some guys, who we added to the 40-man, (Edwin) Arroyo, (Leo) Balcazar. We have Garrett Hampson, a veteran guy, who will be around to the end of camp. Spencer Steer can move around," Krall said.
Steer started the game on Wednesday at second base.
Nicolas will not report to camp until the Italian team finishes in the World Baseball Classic. This could delay his appearance on the active roster.
"We told him, go do your thing," Terry Francona said. "We'd obviously would like to see you but we realize, he has the WBC, then he has to go to Bradenton and pick up his life. Of course the more we see him the better. We just want to get to know him more than anything."
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