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    Nestor Lorant (Photo: Aldrin Capulong/Daytona Tortugas)
    Photo: Aldrin Capulong/Daytona Tortugas

    Nestor Lorant named Florida State League’s Pitcher of the Week

    Doug Gray 14

    Nestor Lorant has been named as the Florida State League’s Pitcher of the Week. The Daytona Tortugas starter is getting the award for the second time this year – he previously wont the award for the final week of June.

    For starting pitchers it’s rare that they get two starts in a week, but that’s how things worked out for Nestor Lorant this past week against the St. Lucie Mets. He began the series by allowing one run in five innings that saw him walk no one and strike out seven. Five days later he was back on the mound to wrap up the series and this time around he fired off four hitless innings with one walk and five strikeouts. In total he threw nine innings of 1-run baseball with 12 strikeouts and just one walk.

    Typically that’s a standout performance for any pitcher, but for Nestor Lorant it’s just another 2-start stretch. The 22-year-old right hander has now pitched in 22 games this year and has allowed more than two runs in an outing one time. He’s only allowed more than one earned run four times.

    It would be tough to argue that Lorant hasn’t been the best pitcher in the league this year. Among pitchers with at least 70 innings (he has 87.2), his 1.44 ERA leads the league by 0.66. He has 22 walks and 99 strikeouts, while his 4.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio is 3rd best in the league. Opponents have hit just .180/.245/.267 against him this season.

    Here are the other Cincinnati Reds players to win a Player of the Week Award in 2024:

    PlayerLeagueTime Frame
    Ricardo CabreraFlorida State LeagueApril 15-21
    Rhett LowderMidwest LeagueApril 22-28
    Carson SpiersInternational LeagueMay 6-12
    Tyler CallihanSouthern LeagueMay 6-12
    Juan MartinezFlorida State LeagueMay 13-19
    Jonathan HarmonMidwest LeagueJune 3-9
    Nestor LorantFlorida State LeagueJune 24-30
    Francisco UrbaezSouthern LeagueJune 24-30
    Ryan CardonaMidwest LeagueJuly 1-7
    Rhett LowderSouthern LeagueJuly 22-28
    Gabriel AguileraMidwest LeagueJuly 22-28
    Carlos JorgeMidwest LeagueJuly 22-28
    Cam CollierMidwest LeagueJuly 29-Aug 4
    Trey FaltineFlorida State LeagueJuly 29-Aug 4
    Sammy StafuraFlorida State LeagueAugust 5-11
    Esmith PinedaFlorida State LeagueAugust 12-18
    Nestor LorantFlorida State LeagueAugust 12-18

    Doug Gray
    Doug Gray is the owner and operator of this website and has been running it since 2006 in one variation or another.

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    14 Responses

    2. Like Serwinwoski, I wonder if the Reds brass take the kid gloves off a little bit in 2025. Lorant threw 4 no hit innings in less than 50 pitches and then got pulled. I get not wanting them to throw 140 IP and managing that load, but sometimes they need to let them go a little deeper imo. Not all innings are counted the same. A 6 pitch inning and a 29 pitch inning aren’t putting the same amount of strain on the arm. Excited to see Lorant next year though, he should get up above 100 IP this year, so hopefully he can handle a full workload in 2025.

      1. I’m sure the plan is to increase their workload in A+ ball next season. I would still expect them to be very managed in terms of IP per start.

        A Ball 4 IP
        A+ Ball 5 IP 25% increase

        I guess the numbers work as far as workload increases, but I would also love to see them go deeper into games. Learning how to pitch to the same guys 2 to 3 times a game is important to their success. You can always limit innings as they near their season limits, it is just the minor leagues after all.

        I don’t really like the proposed 6 IP rule for starters that their kicking around, but maybe it will be a net good in terms of how teams develop their starting pitchers.

        1. Not all innings are created equal though. Lorant has gone into the 60’s in terms of pitch count many times this year. He left the other day at 46. Saying a 9 pitch inning and a 29 pitch inning have the same wear and tear on an arm is ludicrous.

          If they want to ease a starter up as he progresses, doing it by pitch count seems more logical than just number of innings pitched. If the pitch count is 65 and they are at that through 3 innings, pull em. If they have thrown 46 pitches through 4, let them go back out for the 5th.

          Maybe go with 65 pitches year one for younger guys, then bump up to 80/game the next year, then bump up to 90 in year 3, then by year 4 have them going 100 pitches a start. That makes sense. Doing it by innings pitched is ludicrous.

        2. As a guy who loves the old school starting pitching philosophy of keeping your best guys out there, I hate the proposed 6 inning rule with a passion. Let teams manage the club how they want to manage it.

          Banning the shift I actually supported and I love the pitch clock, so it’s not like i’m just anti-change either.

        3. One factor in Lorant’s development, including increased workload, will be completing his conversion to starting full time. He’s made 22 total appearances this year, largely in the piggyback system, but only 7 starts. I suspect the preparation is similar appearance to appearance, but i have to wonder about the ‘not all innings ate created equal’ edict. Coming in the game at a set interval without being in a high leverage situation (other than one of one’s own creation) doesn’t seem as stressful as starting the game. But who knows? Lorant doesn’t seem to get overly stressed about anything*. It’s a game of adjustments to adjustments to adjustments.

          *i did see his first start and he was not sharp whatsoever.

          .

        4. I agree not all innings are equal, and I’m on your side that these young pitchers should be allowed to pitch deeper into games.

          To me a 4 inning prospect isn’t a starter yet, he’s a long reliever. I don’t care if they technically started the game or not. It’s a whole new game facing guys 3 times or more.

        5. A caveat, MBS. In Lorant’s two prior starts in August, he pitched 5 innings. His most recent, third start of 4 innings came in the same week as his pervious start. I suspect that was a factor. IMO, he has shown he has (had) crossed that threshold down in Daytona.

    3. He must have extraordinary secondary stuff, movement and/or hide the baseball well to do what he does with below avg velo.

      1. From what i’ve heard along with his low 90’s fastball he throws a low 80’s slider, a mid 70’s curveball, but it’s his changeup that is his best pitch that is also low 80’s.

    4. Doug,
      How do you determine if Lorant will become a legit prospect? Will it be mostly stat based, or some scouting report of his stuff? As I type, I guess the answer will be both, but I think from your followers benefit, giving some insight would be great!

      1. It’s a good mixture of both. He’s going to have to continue to perform well (though I don’t expect him or anyone else to continue posting a sub 1.50 ERA!). From a scouting perspective, you would like to see the fastball velo improve. It’s just so rare to see someone throw 90 MPH and succeed in the big leagues in today’s game.

        1. Thank you Doug.

          Supporting this website is the best money spent (not a humble brag), but I support with much more than the meager $4 you ask for and hope many others do the same. Thank you for a professional a second to none site for all things Reds minors.

        2. I, for one, expect sub 1.50 ERA’s from Lorant from now through his hall of fame acceptance speech.

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