Nabil Crismatt was excited beyond words when he finished his bullpen session in miserable, raw conditions late Friday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park.
For the first time in the 2025 season’s first two months, the 30-year-old IronPigs starting pitcher’s body felt good.
“I’ve been mentally tough,” Crismatt said, “but, physically, to be honest, it’s the worst I’ve ever felt in my career until today.”
Crismatt has made opposing hitters miserable in his first year in the Phillies organization. They are batting .199 against him with a .604 OPS in seven Triple-A starts.
The Colombia native is ninth in the International League in ERA (2.31) and WHIP (1.03), including his season-opening start when he allowed five earned runs and 10 baserunners in four innings in frigid Rochester.
It was the only time so far that the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder did not have the mental fortitude to overcome his physical shortcomings.
“It was really cold,” he said. “I’m not used to pitching in those conditiions. I wasn’t thinking. I was trying to get out of the cold.
“I just flushed it really quick.”
Crismatt has made fast work of opponents since that April 1 start. He has allowed a total of four hits and zero runs in three of the right-hander’s six starts after his IronPigs debut. He’s allowed only five earned runs in the other three starts totaling 17 innings.
Now in his eighth organization in his 14th professional seasons, Crismatt has found something.
“Throwing the ball, it’s the best in my career,” he said. “I don’t know what I can do now that my body is feeling better. I’m excited for Sunday’s start.”
Crismatt signed with the Mets after the 2011 season and worked mostly out of the bullpen in his first five seasons with that organization before becoming a starter in 2017. He struggled to an 8.84 ERA in nine Triple-A starts before packing his suitcase and changing team addresses for the first time.
He made his major league debut three years later in St. Louis with the Cardinals in the second game of the Aug. 17 doubleheader against the Cubs, when he faced, among others, current Phillie Kyle Schwarber.
Crismatt was the on the move again, spending the next two-plus seasons with the Padres. He made 95 appearances, all but one in relief, in 2021-22 for San Diego.
He went the Diamondbacks in 2023, then split 2024 between the Dodgers, Padres again and the Rangers.
The Phillies signed Crismatt on Dec. 13, then gave him a shot to make the team’s bullpen this spring. He made it to the last round of pitching cuts before getting the news he was going to a starter with Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start 2025.
He took the news like all the others after being summoned to the manager’s office — with a smile.
“I’m a happy person,” Crismatt said. “I like to joke. I don’t have enemies in the world. You tell me something one day, then see you next day I’ll hug you. I don’t fight with anybody. I like to have fun.”
Crismatt has enjoyed learning the art of pitching. His arsenal includes a fastball, changeup, curveball, slider and sinker. He began using a changeup in 2012. It has evolved into his go-to pitch.
An adjustment with his wrist thanks to Cubs teammate Kyle Hendricks made Crismatt’s changeup more dominant.
“I don’t care if the hitter knows it’s coming or not,” Crismatt said. “I just throw it with all heart and confidence, and get good results. In 2012 in the Dominican Republic, I was told that if I did not learn to throw it, I was not going to the United States.”
Crismatt also learned at an early age that he couldn’t pitch to the radar gun. In an era when upper 90s fastballs are encouraged, the 30-year-old often doesn’t reach 90 mph.
He checks his ego when he crosses the white line, then relies on his arsenal and ability to locate his pitches.
“You’ve got to earn it to survive in this game,” Crismatt said. “They love velocity, but I always fight with that computer. For me, the game is about changing speeds, getting hitters out of balance and getting outs. That’s what I do.
“I put the ball where I want to and forget about velocity. That’s who I am, what they like about me. I use my heart and my arm.”
Crismatt also utilizes his brain to recognize what the hitters are doing — or not doing at that moment at the plate. He reads hitters’ swings and reacts accordingly.
“I don’t go too much with the [scouting] report,” he said. “I go by what I’m seeing, what hitters are trying to do to me.
“I’m learning more about the game as the years go on. I feel like I know more about myself every time I take the mound. I feel I’m in a really good point in my career, my best version.”
Crismatt is a true pitching junky, choosing the last four years to pitch in the Dominican Winter League, where he’s been able to polish his craft while facing quality hitters of all ages in a wildly intense atmosphere.
He also relishes working in a demanding situation where managers don’t worry much about pitch counts.
“Here as a starter, they tell you that you have 100 pitches,” Crismatt said, “and you figure out how to throw those 100 pitches. In the Dominican League, you put two on base and somebody is warming up in the bullpen.
“You’ve got to lock it in. It makes you more competitive. You do whatever you have to do. It’s about getting outs. If you keep getting three outs, keep eating innings; if not, it’s, ‘give me the ball.’
“It’s really fun to play there. It’s been helping me in my career.”
Crismatt loves to compete against himself. If he goes six innings in one start, he wants seven the next time. If he allows one run, the next time he wants a shutout.
If he hits 92 mph on the radar gun … he doesn’t care.
He enjoys the art of pitching and relishes every opportunity he gets no matter if he’s in the majors or the Dominican.
He also doesn’t carry himself any different on days he’s pitching. What you see is what you get 24-7, 365 days a year.
Crismatt takes after father, Jose, who has a similar love of life.
“I love to talk to everybody,” he said. “When it’s work day, I lock it in for those two hours. I’m focused on what I have to do.
“But I talk to everybody. I’m the same person. Whatever God has for you that day; that’s what it is.”
Crismatt has been one of the anchors of the IronPigs’ stellar starting rotation through the first 37 games entering Saturday. He’s shown heart and an ability to counter velocity with the ability to out-think and out-execute opposing hitters.
He’s done it all with a smile — and a body that has not felt good in a game yet this season.
Crismatt thinks that is going to change in his next start Sunday against Worcester. His numbers make it hard to imagine how much better he can be.
Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
Source: Berkshire mont