| Jonathon Niese | |
|---|---|
| New York Mets – No. 49 | |
| Starting pitcher | |
| Born: October 27, 1986 Lima, Ohio |
|
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| September 2, 2008 for the New York Mets | |
| Career statistics (through 2011 Season) |
|
| Win-Loss | 22-23 |
| Earned run average | 4.39 |
| Strikeouts | 315 |
| Teams | |
|
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Jonathon Joseph "Jon" Niese (born October 27, 1986) is an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.
Contents |
Niese was born to Jeffery and Annette Niese in Lima, Ohio on October 27, 1986 (coincidentally on the same night that his future team, the New York Mets, won Game 7 of the 1986 World Series). He was brought up in Defiance, Ohio where he attended Defiance High School. In Little League (and later in high school), Niese was a teammate of Los Angeles Dodger starting pitcher Chad Billingsley. In the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, the Mets chose Niese 209th overall (ninth pick of the seventh round).[1]
Niese began his career in the minors in 2005 pitching for the Gulf Coast Mets of the Gulf Coast League, where he pitched in 7 games including 5 starts while earning one win and zero losses.[2] In 2006, Niese was moved up to Single-A where he split time between the St. Lucie Mets in Port St. Lucie, Florida and the Hagerstown Suns. In 2007, he pitched the entire season for the St. Lucie Mets where he went 11–7 with a 4.39 ERA[3] In 2008, Niese gained another level beginning the year with the Double-A Binghamton Mets.
Niese was promoted to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs in July 2008. He made his debut for the Zephyrs on July 30, 2008, striking out seven and allowing only one run in seven innings.
Niese made his major league debut on September 2, 2008, against the Milwaukee Brewers. He gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Rickie Weeks. It was the first time in Mets history that a pitcher gave up a home run to the first batter he faced in his career. He ended the day giving up five runs in three innings.[4] In his second start, on September 13, 2008, he earned his first Major League victory pitching eight shutout innings against the Atlanta Braves in a 5–0 victory.[5]
On May 6, 2009, Niese was called up from Triple-A Buffalo Bisons to replace the injured starting pitcher Oliver Perez.[6] His first start of the season was a success. He pitched 6 innings, giving up two runs, no walks, and struck out 5 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On July 25, 2009, Niese was called up to replace an injured Fernando Nieve in the starting rotation. Pitching against the Houston Astros, Niese pitched seven innings, giving up only one run.
On August 5, 2009, against the St. Louis Cardinals, Jon Niese was injured trying to reach for a ball at first base. After taking a test pitch, he collapsed on his right leg and was taken out of the game.[7] He suffered a complete tear of the hamstring tendon and had season-ending surgery.[8]
On June 10, 2010, Niese pitched the best game of his career, a one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres. The only hit was a Chris Denorfia double in the third inning. After the game Mets' catcher Rod Barajas said (about Niese) "I can't tell you how impressive and how good this guy can be." This one-hitter was only the second time in New York Metropolitan history that a pitcher has pitched to one batter above the minimum.
He was named one of the five starting pitchers on Baseball America's 2010 All-Rookie Team.[9]
Niese generally throws four pitches. A fastball, a cut fastball, a 12–6 curveball, and an occasional change-up.
|
||||||||