Ivan Nova

Iván Manuel Nova Guance, born January 12, 1987 is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees. He bears the nickname Super-Nova.

Career

Nova was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Yankees in 2004. At the end of the 2008 season, Nova had not advanced beyond Class-A Advanced, where he pitched for the Tampa Yankees. In December 2008, Nova was selected by the San Diego Padres in the Rule 5 draft. However, he was returned to the Yankees after clearing outright waivers at the end of the 2009 spring training, during which he had an 8.31 ERA, allowing eight earned runs and 13 hits in 8 2⁄3 innings.

Nova advanced to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009. Following the 2009 season, Nova was added to the 40-man roster, to ensure he was not selected in the Rule 5 draft again.

After recording a 2.43 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over his first six starts for Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Nova was promoted to the major leagues on May 10, 2010. He pitched three shutout innings in relief before he was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

On August 21, Nova was recalled to the majors, and he made his first career major league start on August 23. He impressed the Yankees in his first start, and was given his second start, replacing the struggling Javier Vázquez.

Nova was named to the Yankees' Opening Day starting rotation in 2011. On June 20th, Nova had his longest start in his career, allowing only 1 run in 8 innings against the Cincinnati Reds. It was also his best start in his young major league career giving up 0 walks and striking out 7 and allowed only 4 hits.

Scouting report

Nova throws four pitches: a 4-seam fastball (92-97 mph), a 2-seam fastball (89-92 mph), a circle-changeup (82-85 mph), and a 12-6 curveball (76-80 mph). Although he throws all of his pitches with above-average control and command, Nova's best pitch is his sinking, 2-seam fastball; he has used his "sinker" to amass a fantastic career ground-ball-percentage during his professional baseball career, and has propelled himself through the minor leagues and in to prospect status. Although his velocity and breaking-ball cause him to fall short of being considered a "top prospect" by the MLB community, Nova's impressive control and near-ideal frame give him back-end-of-the-rotation potential in the MLB.