Tommy Nance Bio
Thomas Andrew Nance, known professionally as Tommy Nance, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on March 19, 1991, he has built his career through perseverance after going undrafted out of college, eventually reaching the major leagues as a relief pitcher. Over the years, Nance has suited up for the Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres organization, and the Toronto Blue Jays, contributing out of the bullpen at the MLB level while logging extensive time in the minor leagues. His career has been marked by both adversity and persistence, as he has battled back from injuries, including a nerve issue in his shoulder and a right shoulder strain, to remain active in professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Tommy Nance grew up in the Long Beach, California area and attended Woodrow Wilson High School. During his high school years, he experienced a stress fracture in his lower back, an early physical challenge that tested his commitment to the sport. Despite the setback, Nance continued pursuing baseball and developed into a prospect capable of playing at the collegiate level.
After high school, Nance played college baseball at three institutions, including Long Beach State, Cypress College, and Santa Clara. His college path allowed him to refine his pitching approach and gain valuable experience against competitive amateur competition. Following his senior year at Santa Clara, Nance underwent Tommy John surgery, a procedure that forced him to miss significant developmental time but did not end his professional aspirations.
Path to Baseball
After going undrafted out of Santa Clara University in 2015, Nance signed with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the independent Frontier League. The Frontier League gave him a platform to showcase his abilities, and in 29 games he registered a 4.74 earned run average and a 1–1 record with 40 strikeouts in 38 innings while posting a 1.421 WHIP. That independent-ball stint proved to be the springboard he needed to attract MLB organization attention.
On January 18, 2016, the Chicago Cubs purchased his contract, beginning his climb through the affiliated minor leagues. Nance split the 2016 season across four Cubs affiliates, including the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, Single-A South Bend Cubs, High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and Triple-A Iowa Cubs, compiling a 4–1 record and a 2.58 ERA in 22 games. He did not pitch in 2017 after being diagnosed with a nerve injury in his shoulder, but he returned in 2018 with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, recording a 3.48 ERA in 15 appearances. In 2019, he split time between Tennessee and Myrtle Beach, posting a 2–5 record and a 4.07 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 48.2 innings, continuing to build his resume as a relief pitcher.
Tommy Nance Career
Early Career (2015–2020)
Nance began his professional career in 2015 with the Windy City Thunderbolts, where his performance in the Frontier League convinced an MLB organization to take a chance on him. Joining the Chicago Cubs system in 2016, he advanced through the lower levels of the minor leagues, demonstrating consistency as a reliever. The 2017 season was lost to a shoulder nerve injury, but Nance returned in 2018 with the Tennessee Smokies and continued progressing in 2019 between Double-A and High-A.
The 2020 minor league season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, costing Nance another full year of development. Through persistence and steady performance in the Cubs organization, he positioned himself for a major league opportunity in 2021.
Chicago Cubs Breakthrough (2021)
Nance opened the 2021 season at Triple-A Iowa and made an immediate impact by pitching the fourth through sixth innings of a combined no-hitter against the Indianapolis Indians at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa, on May 9, striking out five batters over three innings. After recording a 1.50 ERA in three games with Iowa, he was added to the 40-man roster and promoted to the majors on May 16, 2021.
He made his MLB debut on May 17, 2021, pitching a scoreless inning of relief and recording his first Major League strikeout against Washington Nationals infielder Josh Harrison. On June 11, 2021, Nance earned his first MLB victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. In 27 appearances for the Cubs that season, he went 1–1 with a 7.22 ERA over 28.2 innings, striking out 23 batters while giving up 23 earned runs. He was placed on the COVID-19 injured list on October 2, 2021, and was designated for assignment by Chicago on March 25, 2022.
Miami Marlins Era (2022–2023)
The Miami Marlins claimed Nance off waivers on March 27, 2022, giving him a fresh start in a new organization. In 35 appearances for the Marlins during the 2022 season, he posted a 2–3 record and a 4.33 ERA with 57 strikeouts over 43.2 innings pitched, establishing himself as a reliable middle reliever.
His momentum was interrupted in February 2023, when a right shoulder strain forced him to begin the regular season on the injured list. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on April 22, 2023, and was activated on August 23, 2023, only to be placed back on the 60-day injured list on September 19 with an undisclosed injury, ending his season without a major league appearance. Following the 2023 season, Nance was removed from the 40-man roster, sent outright to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and elected free agency on November 6, 2023.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2024–Present)
After signing a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres on December 10, 2023, Nance spent 2024 with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, logging a 4.05 ERA with 35 strikeouts and two saves in 26 appearances across 33.1 innings. On August 7, 2024, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations, and his contract was selected by Toronto the next day, returning him to the major leagues. In 20 appearances for the Blue Jays in 2024, he compiled an 0–3 record and a 4.09 ERA with 19 strikeouts over 22 innings of work.
Toronto designated Nance for assignment on March 27, 2025, but he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on March 30, 2025. In 27 appearances for Buffalo, he logged an 0–4 record and a 4.60 ERA with 42 strikeouts and four saves across 31.1 innings. The Blue Jays selected his contract on July 11, bringing him back to the active roster. On March 22, 2026, Nance was among the final relief pitchers selected to start the season with the Toronto Blue Jays, and he has since contributed to the bullpen wearing jersey number 45.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Nance’s career came on May 9, 2021, when he was part of a combined no-hitter at the Triple-A level with the Iowa Cubs, striking out five batters over three innings. He followed that with a memorable MLB debut on May 17, 2021, recording his first Major League strikeout in a scoreless inning of relief. He also earned his first MLB win on June 11, 2021, against the St. Louis Cardinals, capping a rapid rise from undrafted free agent to major leaguer.
Tommy Nance Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Tommy Nance has accumulated wins at the independent, minor league, and major league levels. His first MLB victory came with the Chicago Cubs on June 11, 2021, while pitching for the Miami Marlins in 2022, he added further major league decisions. Nance has also posted wins in the Frontier League and across multiple levels of the minor leagues, building a reputation as a durable reliever capable of contributing in high-leverage situations.
Major League Highlights
At the MLB level, Nance has appeared in games for the Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins, and Toronto Blue Jays. His first major league win came during his 2021 debut season with the Cubs, and he recorded additional decisions with the Marlins in 2022. Wearing number 45 for Toronto, he has continued to appear in relief appearances as the Blue Jays have turned to him in middle and late innings.
Tommy Nance Family
Personal Life
Thomas Andrew Nance was born on March 19, 1991, and raised in the Long Beach, California area. Details about his immediate family and personal life are not widely documented in publicly available sources, and he tends to keep his private life out of the public eye. He has focused much of his public profile on his baseball career and his work as a relief pitcher.
2025 Season Performance
Tommy Nance’s 2025 campaign began with a designation for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays on March 27, 2025, before he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on March 30, 2025. With Buffalo, he worked in 27 appearances, logging an 0–4 record and a 4.60 ERA with 42 strikeouts and four saves across 31.1 innings pitched, providing veteran stability for the Triple-A staff.
On July 11, 2025, the Blue Jays selected Nance’s contract and added him back to their active roster, where he has contributed as a relief pitcher in the second half of the season. His big league totals through recent play include a 6–9 win-loss record, a 4.36 earned run average, and 165 strikeouts, reflecting his role as a strikeout-oriented arm out of the bullpen. Nance’s perseverance through injuries and roster movement has allowed him to remain a contributor at the major league level.
