Former Guardians Pitching Prospect Lands with White Sox

Doug Nikhazy claimed off waivers by Chicago, sent to Triple-A

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into overlapping geometric shapes in muted tones of navy, green, and orange, conveying the concept of a new opportunity for a young player.A fresh start for a former top pitching prospect as he looks to make his mark with a new organization.Boston Today

Doug Nikhazy, a former top pitching prospect in the Cleveland Guardians' system, has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. Nikhazy made his MLB debut with the Guardians last season but struggled, leading the team to designate him for assignment. The White Sox have now added him to their organization, where he will start in Triple-A as he looks to earn another shot in the big leagues.

Why it matters

Nikhazy was once considered one of the Guardians' top pitching prospects, but he was unable to solidify a role with the major league club. His waiver claim by the White Sox represents a fresh start and opportunity for the young right-hander to prove himself at the highest level.

The details

Nikhazy made two appearances for the Guardians in 2025, allowing six earned runs in three innings in his MLB debut against the Boston Red Sox and then tossing a scoreless inning of relief against the Detroit Tigers. His numbers declined at the minor league level in 2025 after a strong 2024 season split between Double-A and Triple-A. With the Guardians' rotation depth, there was not enough room for Nikhazy, leading to his designation for assignment and subsequent waiver claim by the White Sox.

  • Nikhazy made his MLB debut for the Guardians against the Red Sox in April 2025.
  • Nikhazy tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Guardians against the Tigers on July 4, 2025.
  • The Guardians designated Nikhazy for assignment last week to make room for Kolby Allard on the 40-man roster.
  • The White Sox claimed Nikhazy off waivers on Monday and immediately assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte.

The players

Doug Nikhazy

A former top pitching prospect in the Cleveland Guardians' system who made his MLB debut with the team in 2025 before being designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox.

Kolby Allard

A pitcher who the Guardians added to their 40-man roster, leading to Nikhazy being designated for assignment.

Gavin Williams

One of the Guardians' top pitching prospects who contributed to the lack of roster space for Nikhazy.

Tanner Bibee

Another Guardians pitching prospect who contributed to the lack of roster space for Nikhazy.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Nikhazy will get another shot in the majors with the White Sox, either as a starter or in a relief role.

The takeaway

Nikhazy's waiver claim by the White Sox represents a fresh start for the young pitcher, who was unable to solidify a role with the Guardians. The move to Chicago could provide him with a new opportunity to prove himself at the MLB level.