Continuing our series on the Mets top prospects, as ranked by Baseball America (March 9-22, Issue 0906) magazine in their Top 100 Prospects list… the #3 prospect in the Mets farm system is P Jonathon Niese – the #77 prospect overall.
Niese is the 22 year old southpaw drafted by the Mets in the 7th round (#209 overall) of the 2005 amateur entry draft. He’s been a well regarded prospect for the past several years, having ranked on BA’s Top 10 Mets prospects previously in 2007 (#7 in the organization) and 2008 (#8). This is his first appearance in BA’s Top 100.
- Photo from New York Daily News / Benc-Getty
Niese was born in Defiance, OH and attended Defiance High School – the same school that produced former major league hurlers Doug Bair and Scott Taylor, and current Dodger standout Chad Billingsley.
Niese was a First Team Ohio All-State selection in 2005, when he led the Bulldogs to a 30-2 record and a District Championship. As a pitcher, he posted a 12-0 record and 0.09 ERA in 13 starts, to go along with 144 K’s and a paltry .100 batting average against (BAA). At the plate, Niese compiled a .554 average (4th highest in school history) and a .661 OBP (2nd best). The 12-0 record tied the school mark for wins in a season, and is the best single-season won/loss percentage in the school’s history. In addition to being selected to the All-State squad, Niese was named the Ohio Division II Player of the Year, and the Pro-Line Player Of The Year.
For his career, Niese won a total of 22 games (6th most in school history), with 6 shutouts (tied for 2nd behind Billingsley’s 11), and also saved 6 games (tied for the career lead). He holds the Defiance High School career records for lowest ERA (1.09) and BAA (.146).
Niese began his pro career at rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League at the ripe old age of 18. In 7 games (5 starts) he posted a 1-0 record and a 3.65 ERA. He spent the bulk of the 2006 season at A ball in the South Atlantic League, going 11-9 in 25 starts. He yielded less than a hit per inning (8.8/9IP) and averaged more than a strikeout per inning over 123 2/3 IP. His ERA at Hagerstown that season was a serviceable 3.93.
2007 was a subpar year for the 6′-3″, 190 lb. lefty. He went 11-7 at Hi A St. Lucie in the Florida State League, but his ERA climbed to 4.19 over 28 appearances - all starts - and he yielded over 10 hits per 9 innings. On the positive side, his K/BB ratio improved from 2/1 in 2006 to around 3.5/1 in 2007.
Things took a turn for the better in 2008, with Niese showing signs of blossoming. To start with, he handled himself quite nicely in his first experience at AA (Binghamton in the Eastern League). Though his record was just 6-7, his ERA was an impressive 3.04 over 22 games and 124+ innings. He was back under a hit per inning pitched (WHIP of 1.30), and struck out 112 against just 44 walks (about a 2.5/1 ratio). After moving up to AAA New Orleans, the youngster proceeded to notch a 5-1 record with a 3.40 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and an opponent’s BAA of just .231.
Pressed into service in ‘The Show’ last September, Niese made 3 starts for the Mets with mixed results. In two of his outings he lasted just 3 innings and gave up 7 hits and 5 or more runs. To be fair, one of those starts was against the Cubs - one of the best hitting teams against lefthanders. Sandwiched between those two short outings was an 8 inning gem during which he yielded just 6 hits and 2 walks against the Braves, striking out 7 while guiding the Mets to a 5-0 victory - in a game which at the time was a critical win for the New Yorkers’ playoff hopes.
After all was said and done, Niese’s major league stats were hardly impressive - 14 IP, 20 hits and 8 walks allowed, and a 7.07 ERA. But he did earn his first major league victory, and undoubtedly gained some valuable experience that he should be able to draw on in the future.
Rotoworld.com reports that Niese is likely headed to AAA Buffalo and will not start the season as the Mets’ fifth starter… I tend to agree with that prediction, although not necessarily because he was unimpressive last season or in Grapefruit League play this spring (0-2, 6.75 ERA, 7 walks in 8 IP). It’s more a fact of Niese’s age and the fact that he can log consistent innings at AAA. He’s also pitched only a total of 164 innings above Hi-A which would suggest at least another half year of seasoning in the minors is in order.
What do you think of Jon Niese and the rest of the Mets farm system? Share your thoughts with us… post your comments or send us an email… Scott can be reached at… scott@citifieldblog.com
