Nic Enright Set for Major League Debut After Cancer Battle

DETROIT — Nic Enright, a 28-year-old right-handed pitcher, is poised to make his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Guardians. This comes less than three years after being diagnosed with Stage II nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. The Guardians called up Enright from Triple-A Columbus to reinforce their bullpen during the bereavement leave of Hunter Gaddis, who is away due to a family death.

Enright was drafted in the 20th round by Cleveland in 2019 and has proven himself in the minor leagues. In nine appearances this season at Columbus, he maintained a 2.00 ERA, striking out seven over nine innings. Last year, he boasted a remarkable 1.06 ERA with 31 strikeouts in just 17 innings.

The right-hander’s journey to this moment has been fraught with challenges. After being selected by the Miami Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2022, Enright received his cancer diagnosis just weeks later. Following a difficult treatment regimen, he faced both physical and mental hurdles but remained determined to return to baseball. “Having a goal like reaching the majors helped me push through,” he stated recently.

Enright faced setbacks, including a shoulder impingement and a lat strain that delayed his start to the 2025 season. After a successful recovery, he returned to minor league action late last month, allowing only two earned runs in his last nine innings.

His parents visited him and his wife, Erin, in Columbus over the weekend. The news of his call-up was shared with them in person on Friday night, and they will attend his debut against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Coincidentally, the Tigers are hosting ‘Strike Out Cancer Weekend’ at the ballpark.

As for his upcoming debut, Enright expressed excitement and nerves. “I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long,” he said. “It’s all finally coming together.”