Nick Gardewine

Nick Gardewine (born August 15, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers.

Amateur career
Gardewine attended Effingham High School in Effingham, Illinois, and graduated in 2012. He played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher and finished his senior year with an 8–1 win–loss record, a 0.76 earned run average (ERA), and 74 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. He then enrolled at Kaskaskia College and pitched for the school's baseball team in the National Junior College Athletic Association for one season. He had a 2.12 ERA, and threw a no-hitter in a game against Lake Land College, helping his team reach the JUCO World Series.

Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers selected Gardewine in the seventh round, with the 220th overall selection, of the 2013 MLB Draft. He signed with the Rangers, and pitched in Minor League Baseball for the Arizona Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2013 where he was 3–3 with 3.21 ERA in 14 games. In 2014, Gardewine pitched for the Spokane Indians of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, and had a 6–3 win–loss record and a 4.54 ERA. He played for the Hickory Crawdads of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2015, and had a 6–8 win–loss record and a 4.31 ERA. While pitching for Hickory, Gardewine tore his supraspinatus muscle. He rehabilitated the injury into the 2016 season, where he became a relief pitcher for the High Desert Mavericks of the Class A-Advanced California League. In 29 relief appearances for Hickory in 2016, he was 5–1 with a 2.47 ERA. Gardewine began the 2017 season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Class AA Texas League.

The Rangers promoted Gardewine to the major leagues for the first time on August 21, 2017. Gardewine appeared in 12 games for Texas in 2017, producing a 0–0 record, and 5.63 ERA in 8 innings.

In 2018 Gardewine appeared in 3 games for Texas, posting a 0–0 record, and 3.60 ERA in 5 innings. He appeared in 12 games for the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, throwing 12 innings with a 2–1 record, 7.30 ERA, and 17 strikeouts in 12 games. Gardewine was placed on the AAA DL on May 17, 2018 with a right forearm strain. Gardewine spent the rest of the 2018 season rehabbing his injury and did not appear in another game. Gardewine was placed on the MLB 60-day DL from August 25 - November 2, 2018.

In 2019, Gardewine was optioned to the Nashville Sounds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to open the season, and appeared in four games before being shut down for the season due to injuries. On June 8, he was designated for assignment. On June 13, he was released by Texas. On June 19, he signed a two-year minor league contract with the Rangers. Gardewine was released by the Rangers organization on June 1, 2020.

Cleburne Railroaders
On May 7, 2021, Gardewine signed with the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball. Gardewine appeared in 1 game with Cleburne, pitching a shutout inning with 3 strikeouts.

Arizona Diamondbacks
On May 20, 2021, Gardewine’s contract was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.

Cleburne Railroaders (second stint)
On April 29, 2022, Gardewine signed with the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball. Gardewine appeared in 42 games for Cleburne in 2022, recording a 5-4 record and 2.72 ERA with 15 saves and 59 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.

On January 23, 2023, he was released by the Railroaders. Gardewine re–signed with Cleburne on June 17. He made 24 appearances for the Railroaders, struggling to a 6.17 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 5 saves across $23 1⁄3$ innings pitched. Gardewine became a free agent after the 2023 season.

Hagerstown Flying Boxcars
On May 29, 2024, Gardewine signed with the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 9 games for Hagerstown, Gardewine struggled to a 6.17 ERA with 13 strikeouts across $11 2⁄3$ innings pitched.

Lexington Legends
On June 28, 2024, Gardewine was traded to the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.