Aaron Nola
A homegrown Phillies ace whose devastating curveball and quiet consistency made him the steady heartbeat of a contending rotation.
Born 1993 (age 33)·American baseball player·Birthday: June 4·Millennials
Biography
Aaron Nola arrived in Philadelphia as a first-round pick out of LSU, carrying the weight of a franchise eager for pitching stability. He delivered not with flash, but with a surgeon's precision, crafting a reputation as one of baseball's most reliable workhorses. His signature is a buckling curveball that seems to defy physics, paired with a fastball he commands with pinpoint accuracy. Nola's demeanor is famously stoic on the mound, a calm presence that belies his competitive fire. He became the organizational anchor, the pitcher they could count on for 200 innings and a chance to win every fifth day, culminating in a World Series appearance in 2022 where his performances were crucial to the Phillies' playoff runs.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Aaron was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aaron Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Aaron's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished third in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2018.
- Pitched a complete-game, 10-strikeout shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 2018.
- Became the first Phillies pitcher to record 200 strikeouts in a season since 2011, a feat he has accomplished multiple times.
- Was selected as a National League All-Star in 2018.
Did You Know?
His brother, Austin Nola, is also a Major League Baseball player, making them one of few active brother duos.
He played college baseball at Louisiana State University (LSU) and was a First Team All-American in 2014.
Nola was drafted in the 22nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays out of high school but chose to attend college instead.
He is known for an extremely long and deliberate pre-pitch routine, sometimes holding the ball for over 20 seconds.
“I just try to execute pitches and get outs. That's my job.”
