Jonathon Joseph Niese (born October 27, 1986) is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
and
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
.
Early life
Niese was born to Jeffery and Annette Niese in
Lima, Ohio
Lima ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwest Ohio along Interstate 75 in Ohio, Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton, Ohio, Dayton, southwest of Toledo, Ohio, T ...
, on October 27, 1986, the same day that the Mets won their second
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
. He was brought up in
Defiance, Ohio
Defiance is a city in and the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio, United States, about southwest of Toledo, Ohio, Toledo and northeast of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Ohio's northwestern corner. The population was 16,494 at the 2010 United State ...
where he attended
Defiance High School
Defiance High School (DHS) is a public high school in Defiance, Ohio, United States. It was established in 1970 and is part of the Defiance City Schools district.
Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships
* Boys Baseball – 1 ...
. He played
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
all four years of high school and was named Third Team All-State during his junior year.
In 2004 and 2005, he was named the state's baseball Player of the Year, becoming the first athlete to win the award in consecutive seasons.
In
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball (officially, Little League Baseball Inc) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization[Chad Billingsley
Chad Ryan Billingsley (born July 29, 1984) is an Americans, American former professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers from through and Philadelphia Phillies in . He ...]
. In the
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams. It is widely considered to be one of the best ...
, the Mets chose Niese 209th overall (ninth pick of the seventh round).
Professional career
Minor leagues
Niese began his career in the minors in 2005 pitching for the Gulf Coast Mets of the
Gulf Coast League
The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the lo ...
, where he pitched in 7 games including 5 starts while earning one
win and zero
losses. In 2006, Niese was moved up to Single-A where he split time between the
St. Lucie Mets
The St. Lucie Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and play their home games at Clover Park. The Mets have been members ...
in
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Port St. Lucie is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. It is the most populous municipality in the county with a population of 204,851 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It is located southeast of Orlando, Florida, O ...
and the
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland. They were a member of the South Atlantic League and, from 2007 through 2020, were the Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They played their home g ...
. In 2007, he pitched the entire season for the St. Lucie Mets where he went 11–7 with a 4.39
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA). In 2008, Niese gained another level beginning the year with the Double-A
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies are an American Minor League Baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club. The Rumble Ponies play in Mira ...
.
Niese was promoted to the
Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
in July 2008. He made his debut for the Zephyrs on July 30, 2008,
striking out
''Striking Out'' is an Irish television legal drama series, broadcast on RTÉ, that first aired on 1 January 2017. Produced by Bl!nder F!lms for RTÉ Television, ''Striking Out'' stars Amy Huberman as Dublin-based solicitor Tara Rafferty, who is ...
seven and allowing only one
run
Run(s) or RUN may refer to:
Places
* Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia
* Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant
People
* Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
in seven innings.
New York Mets
2008
Niese made his major league debut on September 2, 2008, against the
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...
. He gave up a
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
to the first batter he faced,
Rickie Weeks
Rickie Darnell Weeks Jr. (born September 13, 1982) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays. H ...
. 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.
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.
In his last start of the season he lost to the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
, ending his inaugural season at 1–1 with a 7.07 ERA in 3 starts.
2009
On May 6, Niese was called up from Triple-A
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...
to replace the injured starting pitcher
Oliver Perez
Oliver may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and literature
Books
* ''Oliver the Western Engine'', volume 24 in ''The Railway Series'' by Rev. W. Awdry
* ''Oliver Twist'', a novel by Charles Dickens
Fictional characters
* Ariadne Oliver ...
.
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
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
. On July 25, Niese replaced the injured
Fernando Nieve
Fernando Alexis Nieve 'knee-EH-veh''(born July 15, 1982) is a Venezuelan former right-handed professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and New York Mets and in Korea Baseball Organization (K ...
in the starting rotation pitching seven innings and giving up only one run against the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
. Then on August 5, Niese was injured trying to reach for a ball at first base against the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...
. After taking a test pitch, he collapsed on his right leg and was taken out of the game.
He suffered a complete tear of the hamstring tendon and had season-ending surgery.
In 5 major league starts, Niese went 1–1 with a 4.21 ERA in 25.2 innings.
2010
The 2010 campaign was Niese's first full season as major league starter. He finished at 9–10, with a 4.20 ERA in 173.2 innings pitched. He was named one of the five starting pitchers on ''
Baseball America
''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...
''s 2010 All-Rookie Team. The most memorable game of the season was on June 10, when Niese pitched a complete game one-hit
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
against the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
. The only hit was a
Chris Denorfia
Christopher Anthony Denorfia (born July 15, 1980) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and coach. He currently serves as the manager for the Hartford Yard Goats, who are the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies of Major L ...
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." The one-hitter was only the second time in New York Mets history that a pitcher has pitched to one batter above the minimum. Niese went on to pitch his second complete game against the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
on August 21, yet it was a 5 inning rain shortened game. Niese enjoyed much success nearing the end of August, compiling an 8–5 record with a 3.33 ERA over his first 23 starts. Yet, Niese went 1–5 over his last 7 starts of the season and inflated his ERA to 4.20.
2011
![Jon Niese on August 23, 2011](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Jon_Niese_on_August_23%2C_2011.jpg)
Niese ended his second major league season at 11–11, with a 4.40 ERA in 157.1 innings pitched. His season was cut short after injuring his rib cage on August 23. Before his injury,
Terry Collins
Terry Lee Collins (born May 27, 1949) is an American former professional baseball manager. He managed the Houston Astros, the Anaheim Angels and New York Mets in Major League Baseball and the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball. He c ...
was going to limit him to 180 innings pitched. To begin the season, Niese struggled posting a 1–4 record through April. Yet, Niese improved to 10–8 through July before faltering in August to end at 11–11.
2012
![Jon Niese on August 2, 2016 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Jon_Niese_on_August_2%2C_2016_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Before the season began Niese had
rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty ( grc, ῥίς, rhī́s, nose + grc, πλάσσειν, plássein, to shape), commonly called nose job, medically called nasal reconstruction is a plastic surgery procedure for altering and reconstructing the nose. There are two typ ...
performed at the expense of former teammate
Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán (; born April 24, 1977) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1998 to 2017 for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Fra ...
, who offered to pay for the procedure.
Niese has stated that since the procedure his breathing has improved.
Jon Niese and the
Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
agreed to a 5-year $25.5 million contract extension on April 4. On June 3, Niese struck-out a career high 10 batters against the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...
to place the Mets in a three-way tie for 1st place.
On September 29, Niese completed his final game of the season with seven innings of one-run ball against the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
, finishing with a 13–9 record and 3.40 ERA. It was the first season that he completed without struggles in September.
2013
Niese was named the
Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
opening day starter for 2013 due to an injury to
Johan Santana
Johan Alexander Santana Araque (; born March 13, 1979) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball starting pitcher. Santana pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins from 2000 to 2007 and for the New York Mets from 200 ...
. On August 27 he hit a three-run double and allowed only three hits and one walk over nine scoreless innings against the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
at
Citi Field
Citi Field is a baseball stadium located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in New York City, United States. It opened in 2009 and is the home field of Major League Baseball's New York Mets. The stadium was built as a replacement for the adjacent ...
, becoming one of only 24 pitchers in the
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...
to pitch a
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
in the 2013 season. He missed several starts in 2013 due to injuries to his
rotator cuff
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the human shoulder and allow for its extensive range of motion. Of the seven scapulohumeral muscles, four make up the rotator cuff. The four muscles are the supraspi ...
.
2014
Niese began the 2014 season on the
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
due to inflammation in his pitching elbow.
Upon returning from the injury, he performed well in 66 innings pitched but was forced back on the DL again in early July.
He finished the season with a 3.40 ERA in 30 starts, rather consistent with his career numbers.
In 2014, Niese was the longest-tenured Mets pitcher on the team's roster. Only he and
Bobby Parnell
Robert Allen Parnell (born September 8, 1984) is an American former baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers. He was drafted by the Mets in the ninth round of the 2005 Major League Baseba ...
remained on the pitching staff from the team's last winning season in
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
.
2015
Niese made adjustments to his pitching motion during
Spring Training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
in order to alleviate some of the strain which had led to injuries to his pitching arm in the past. In a game on April 24 in the
Subway Series
The Subway Series is a series of Major League Baseball (MLB) rivalry games played between the two teams based in New York City, the Yankees and the Mets. Previously, this applied to the Giants and Dodgers as well, before they moved out of New Yo ...
at
New Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx, New York City. It is the home field of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, and New York City FC of Major League Soccer.
Opened in April 2009, the stadium replaced the ori ...
in which Niese was not scheduled to appear, he was
ejected
Ejection or Eject may refer to:
* Ejection (sports), the act of officially removing someone from a game
* Eject (''Transformers''), a fictional character from ''The Transformers'' television series
* "Eject" (song), 1993 rap rock single by Sense ...
from the
dugout for arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire
Doug Eddings
Douglas Leon Eddings (born September 14, 1968) is an American professional umpire in Major League Baseball.
Umpiring style
A report in ''The Hardball Times'' listed Eddings as having called the largest strike zone among all Major League umpires ...
during a
Juan Lagares
Juan Osvaldo Lagares (born March 17, 1989) is a Dominican professional baseball center fielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels, and in the KBO League for the SSG Land ...
plate appearance. It was Niese's first career MLB ejection.
Pittsburgh Pirates
![Jon_Niese_Pirates](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Jon_Niese_Pirates.jpg)
On December 9, 2015, the Mets traded Niese to the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
for
Neil Walker
Neil Martin Andrew Walker (born September 10, 1985) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2009–2015), New York Mets (2016–17), Milwaukee Brewers ( ...
. Niese began the season in the Pirates rotation but after the all star break he was sent to the bullpen. He finished his stint with Pittsburgh with an 8-6 record and a 4.91 ERA in 21 games, 16 starts.
Return to Mets
On August 1, 2016, the Pirates traded Niese back to the Mets in exchange for
Antonio Bastardo
Antonio Francisco Bastardo Rafael (born September 21, 1985) is a professional baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He is from the Dominican Republic. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phil ...
. On August 24, Niese picked up only one out in a start at
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium (also referred to informally as "New Busch Stadium" or "Busch Stadium III") is a baseball stadium located in St. Louis, Missouri. The stadium serves as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) f ...
before exiting with knee pain. The next day, the Mets placed him on the disabled list and announced that he would undergo
arthroscopic surgery
Arthroscopy (also called arthroscopic or keyhole surgery) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope, an endoscope that is inserted into the jo ...
on his knee. Following the season, the Mets declined their option on Niese's contract, paying him a $500,000 buyout and granting him free agency. Niese was the only MLB pitcher to give up two bases-loaded triples in 2016, one for the Pirates and one for the Mets.
New York Yankees
Niese signed a minor league deal with the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
on January 20, 2017. He was released on March 26.
Texas Rangers
On January 30, 2018, Niese signed a minor league contract with the
Texas Rangers. He was released on March 16.
Seattle Mariners
On April 1, 2019, Niese was drafted by the
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks are an American professional minor-league baseball team based on Long Island in Central Islip, New York. The Ducks compete in the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), an independent "partne ...
of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...
at the 2019 ALPB Player Showcase. On April 24, his contract was purchased by the
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
and he was assigned to the
Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Tacoma, Washington, and play their home games at Cheney Stadium, which opened in 1960. ...
. He was released on July 15, 2019.
Pitching style
Niese throws five pitches:
*
Four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the hardest (i.e., fastest) ball thrown by a pitcher. It is ca ...
(89–92 mph)
*
Two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and softball. It is a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball and can also include late-breaking action caused by varying the pressure of the index and middle fingers on t ...
(89–91)
*
Cutter (87–89)
*
Curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...
(73–77)
*
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball.
The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
(83–86)
Niese uses all five of his pitches against right-handed hitters, but he tends not to use the two-seamer and changeup against lefties, or in 2-strike counts.
Personal life
Jon Niese met Leah Eckman, a native of
Oregon, Ohio
Oregon is a city in Lucas County, Ohio. It is a lakefront suburb of Toledo, located on Lake Erie, just east of the city. Oregon is known for its scenic lakefront, bike trails, and Maumee Bay State Park. The population was 19,950 at the 20 ...
, in July 2009 at a
bonfire
A bonfire is a large and controlled outdoor fire, used either for informal disposal of burnable waste material or as part of a celebration.
Etymology
The earliest recorded uses of the word date back to the late 15th century, with the Catho ...
at
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized programs and research facilities in the ...
while he was rehabbing a torn
hamstring
In human anatomy, a hamstring () is any one of the three posterior thigh muscles in between the hip and the knee (from medial to lateral: semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris). The hamstrings are susceptible to injury.
In quadrupeds, ...
. The couple was married on January 12, 2013 in
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
. On November 18, 2013 they welcomed their first child, daughter Graylee Mae.
On July 24, 2015, Niese started for the Mets at Citi Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After pitching 3 innings, Niese retired to the clubhouse where he used
FaceTime
FaceTime is a Proprietary software, proprietary videotelephony product developed by Apple Inc. FaceTime is available on supported iOS mobile devices running iOS 4 and later and Mac computers that run and later. FaceTime supports any iOS devic ...
to watch his wife give birth to the couple's first son, Tatum Jeffrey, in Toledo. He has his son's name tattooed on his right inside forearm. On March 26, 2012 Cardinals center fielder and ex-teammate Carlos Beltran paid $10,000 for Niese to get a nose job. Niese's motivation for the nose job originally was cosmetic, but he said he has been breathing better since the elective procedure. Said Niese: "He wanted me to have a new nose. So he offered to pay for it. I was just like, 'All right.' Then it turned into seeing doctors and to getting it fixed."
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niese, Jon
1986 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Lima, Ohio
People from Defiance, Ohio
Baseball players from Ohio
Major League Baseball pitchers
New York Mets players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Gulf Coast Mets players
Hagerstown Suns players
St. Lucie Mets players
Binghamton Mets players
New Orleans Zephyrs players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Tacoma Rainiers players
Águilas Cibaeñas players
American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic