Nick Ahmed
Ahmed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015
Free agent
Shortstop
Born: (1990-03-15) March 15, 1990
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 29, 2014, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.234
Home runs70
Runs batted in322
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Nicholas Mark Ahmed (born March 15, 1990) is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Amateur career

Ahmed attended East Longmeadow High School in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts,[1] where he played as a pitcher (posting a career record of 21–3), was a member of the National Honor Society, and also played basketball.[2] He then enrolled at the University of Connecticut, where he majored in sport management[1] and played shortstop and pitcher for the Connecticut Huskies baseball team.[3] As a freshman, he batted .288 and .300 as a sophomore, and played for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League during the summer of his 2010 sophomore year.[4] As a junior, Ahmed hit .326.[5]

Professional career

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves drafted Ahmed in the second round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, 85th overall.[1] He played in minor league baseball for the Lynchburg Hillcats in 2012,[3] and was named fastest baserunner in the league by Baseball America.[6]

Arizona Diamondbacks

After the 2012 season, the Braves traded Ahmed, Martin Prado, Randall Delgado, Zeke Spruill, and Brandon Drury to the Diamondbacks for Justin Upton and Chris Johnson.[7] Ahmed was called up to the major leagues for the first time on June 29, 2014.[8] He collected his first Major League hit off of Odrisamer Despaigne. In 25 games, he hit an even .200 in 70 at bats.

Ahmed began the 2015 season as the Diamondbacks' starting shortstop. In 134 games, he hit .226 with nine home runs. Ahmed's 2016 season was cut short due to a right hip impingement, causing him to miss the last two months of the season. On June 27, 2017, his right hand was broken by a fastball, leading to a long layoff, and two months later his right wrist was fractured when he was hit by a pitch in a rehab appearance.[9]

Ahmed entered the 2018 season fully healthy and went on to finish the season with career bests offensively. In 153 games, Ahmed hit .234 with 16 home runs, 70 RBIs and 33 doubles. He also had his best defensive season, leading National League shortstops with 21 defensive runs saved en route to his first career Gold Glove Award.[10] The following season, Ahmed continued his offensive resurgence from 2018, hitting a career high .254 along with career highs in home runs (19) and RBI (82) while also netting his second straight Gold Glove Award. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Ahmed hit .266 with five home runs and 29 RBIs in 57 games.

In 2021, Ahmed appeared in 129 games for the Diamondbacks, posting a slash of .221/.280/.339 with 5 home runs, 38 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.[11] Ahmed played in 17 games for Arizona in 2022, slashing .231/.259/.442 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI. On June 8, 2022, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.[12]

In 2023, Ahmed became the first player in Diamondbacks history to play 10 seasons with the club.[13] In 72 games for Arizona, he batted .212/.257/.303 with 2 home runs, 17 RBI, and 5 stolen bases. On September 6, 2023, Ahmed was designated for assignment following the promotion of Jordan Lawlar.[14] He was released by the Diamondbacks on September 9.[15]

Personal life

Ahmed is married to Amanda (Coughlin) Ahmed.[16] They have two sons and a daughter. Ahmed is a Christian.[17]

Ahmed has a younger brother, Michael, who played college baseball for the Holy Cross Crusaders and was selected in the 20th round (604th overall) of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.[1][18] His uncle, Raphael Cerrato, is the head baseball coach at the University of Rhode Island.[1][19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "7 Nick Ahmed". UConn Baseball. 2015. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  2. ↑ Piecoro, Nick (March 17, 2015). "Arizona Diamondbacks' Nick Ahmed looking to show big-league bat". AZ Central. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Larsen, Ben (October 13, 2012). "East Longmeadow's Nick Ahmed has solid year in Single A". The Republican. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ "#4 Nick Ahmed - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. ↑ "UCONNHUSKIES.COM Nick Ahmed Bio :: University Of Connecticut Official Athletic Site University Of Connecticut Official Athletic Site - Baseball". Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ Tompkins, Jules (April 3, 2015). "'Underdog' Nick Ahmed to start at shortstop for 2015 Arizona Diamondbacks". Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ Baum, Bob (January 24, 2013). "East Longmeadow's Nick Ahmed headed to Arizona Diamondbacks organization in Justin Upton trade". The Republican. Associated Press. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  8. ↑ McCaffrey, Jen (June 30, 2014). "East Longmeadow's Nick Ahmed makes major league debut with Arizona Diamondbacks". MassLive. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Nick Ahmed Suffers Broken Wrist".
  10. ↑ "Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed captures NL Gold Glove award".
  11. ↑ "Nick Ahmed - Stats - Batting | FanGraphs Baseball".
  12. ↑ "Diamondbacks' Nick Ahmed: Shifts to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Nick Ahmed Quietly Sprints Out to Great Start". si.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Long-time Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed designated for assignment". arizonasports.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Nick Ahmed officially released by Diamondbacks after being DFA'd". arizonasports.com. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ Volain, Mark C. (May 6, 2016). "East Longmeadow major leaguer Nick Ahmed on faith: God wants to 'walk with me every day'". The Republican. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Five Increase Questions with Nick Ahmed". The Increase. February 17, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Mike Ahmed Drafted By Los Angeles Dodgers". College of the Holy Cross. June 8, 2013. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  19. ↑ "18 - Raphael Cerrato". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
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