Grace Nieto is Northwestern’s table-setter with a knack for getting on base
In the 2026 season, Grace Nieto has been a high-impact leadoff presence for Northwestern, hitting .310 with a .928 OPS and a team-best 49 runs scored, while also drawing 41 walks and going 10-for-12 on stolen-base attempts. She’s especially valuable because she combines patience, speed, and run creation—she reached base in all five games at the Kajikawa Classic and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 33 walks in mid-April. The fit is obvious: if your team wants a gritty, catalyst-style infielder who can pressure defenses and spark rallies, she’s the kind of player who quietly tilts games.
