Jonathon Niese, Pitcher


Date of Birth: 10/27/1986
Birthplace: Lima, Ohio

Jonathon Niese, pitcher, was drafted by the New York Mets in 2005. He played in the Mets' minor league system from 2005 through most of 2009. He joined the Mets for three games in 2008 and five games in 2009.

In 2010, Niese was in the Mets' starting rotation, pitching 173.2 innings in 30 games. He finished the season with a 9-10 record and a 4.20 ERA. The next season, he had an 11-11 record and a 4.40 ERA.

Niese signed a five-year, $25.5 million contract with the Mets in April, 2012. That year, he had his best season with a career low ERA of 3.40 and career highs in games played (30), innings pitched (190.1), wins (13 to 9 losses), and strikeouts (155 to 49 walks). In 2013, he had an 8-8 record and a 3.71 ERA in 24 games. He finished the 2014 season with a 9-11 record, 138 strikeouts to 45 walks, and a 3.40 ERA in 187.2 innings in 30 games.

Niese pitched in 33 games with the Mets in 2015. He finished the season with a 9-10 record, 113 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a 4.13 ERA in 176.2 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 5.1 innings in relief in 6 games and he gave up 5 hits and 3 runs.

Niese was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 9, 2015. He returned to the Mets in a trade made on August 1, 2016. Soon after returning to the Mets, he suffered an injury and spent the rest of the season on the DL. He finished the season with a 5.50 ERA, 8 wins to 7 losses, and 88 strikeouts to 47 walks in 23 games with the Pirates and 6 games with the Mets.

Niese became a free agent on November 3, 2016. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on February 20, 2017. He was released on March 26th. He didn't play professional baseball in 2017.

Niese signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on January 30, 2018. He was released on March 20th. He didn't play professional baseball in 2018.

Niese signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on April 25, 2019. After playing only in the minors, the Mariners released him on July 15, 2019. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.

Career pitching statistics for Niese through 2018 include:

  • 211 games played
  • 1,189.1 innings pitched
  • 69-68 win-loss record
  • 914 strikeouts to 367 walks
  • 4.07 ERA

Personal Life

Niese and his wife Leah were married on January 12, 2013. They have one daughter.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jonathon Niese
ESPN - Jonathon Niese