C.J. Nitkowski is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for eight different teams during his career. He was known for his left-handed pitching and his ability to throw a variety of pitches, including a fastball, curveball, and slider.
Nitkowski was born on March 9, 1973, in Suffern, New York. He attended St. John's University in Queens, New York, where he played college baseball for the Red Storm. In 1994, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the first round of the MLB draft.
Nitkowski made his MLB debut with the Reds in 1995, pitching in 13 games that season. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1998, where he had his best season as a professional. In 1999, he appeared in 73 games for the Tigers, posting a 5-1 record with a 3.62 ERA.
Over the course of his career, Nitkowski also played for the Houston Astros, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Washington Nationals. He was primarily used as a relief pitcher, but also made some starts throughout his career.
In addition to his MLB career, Nitkowski also played internationally, pitching for teams in Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. He also played for Team USA in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
After retiring from baseball, Nitkowski became a baseball analyst and commentator, working for various networks including Fox Sports, ESPN, and MLB Network. He also wrote a book about his experiences playing baseball, titled "Ball Four: The Final Pitch."
Overall, Nitkowski had a successful career as a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for eight different teams over the course of his career, and also had the opportunity to play internationally. Today, he is known for his work as a baseball analyst and commentator.
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