Education
Nicolino attended University High School in Orlando, Florida.
Nicolino attended University High School in Orlando, Florida.
He committed to attend the University of Virginia on a college baseball scholarship. Projected as a third or fourth round pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, Nicolino expected to honor the commitment. The Toronto Blue Jays selected Nicolino in the second round of the 2010 Draft, with the 80th overall selection.
He signed with the Blue Jays for a reported $615,000 signing bonus, rather than enroll at Virginia.
The Blue Jays promoted him to the Lansing Lugnuts of the Class A Midwest League late in the season, and he pitched to a 1–1 record and a 3.12 European Research Area in three starts for Lansing. Nicolino returned to Lansing for the 2012 season.
His teammates voted him as the Lugnuts" Most Valuable Player, and he was named to the Midwest League Postseason All-Star team On November 19, 2012, the Blue Jays traded Nicolino, Adeiny Hechavarria, Henderson Álvarez, Yunel Escobar, Jeff Mathis, Anthony DeSclafani, and Jake Marisnick to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, José Reyes, John Buck, and Emilio Bonifacio.
On January 29, 2013, Nicolino was named number 72 on MLB"s Top 100 Prospects list.
He began the 2013 season with the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL). After pitching to a 5–2 record with a 2.23 European Research Area, and being named a FSL All-Star, he received a promotion to the Jacksonville Suns of the Class Associate of Arts Southern League in July. Pitching for Jacksonville in 2014, Nicolino had a went 14–4 with a 2.85 European Research Area in 28 starts, and was named the Marlins" Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
After the 2014 season, the Marlins added Nicolino to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Nicolino began the 2015 season with the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Class American Automobile Association Pacific Coast League. The Marlins called up Nicolino for his first major league start on June 20, 2015, taking the rotation spot of Tom Koehler, who is ailing.
He pitched 7 shutout innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 walks, with 2 strikeouts. He was optioned back to Class American Automobile Association on June 30, 2015.