Thinking about Jon Niese

by John Sickels on May 3, 2007 12:12 PM EDT in News

First, the book comment:

Niese is currently 2-1, 2.35 in five starts for St. Lucie, with a 14/6 K/BB ratio in 23 innings, 22 hits allowed. He's held lefties to a .059 mark so far this year, although righties have had more success (.296). He is getting a lot of ground balls and has yet to allow a home run this year.

The book comment still stands: I like him a lot, he's very intriguing, he's pitching well, and he deserves a lot more attention that he's received. I don't want to increase a grade based on just five starts, and I'd like to see his strikeouts come up a bit as the season progresses, but I do think he'll end up as at least a Grade B prospect by season's end, and maybe a B+. Right now it seems like only Mets fans know much about him, but I think that is likely to change.

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Underrated

You're right about Niese. He's very talented, very young, but not many people know about him. Probably because of Humber and Pelfrey being talked about all the time, and even Deolis Guerra thanks to his age.

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by Ludacrispat26 on May 3, 2007 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

Overshadowed

Prospects in Low-A don't get much recognition unless they are high draft picks or hot international free agent signings. Niese was neither. With Humber/Pelfrey/Guerra/Mulvey and even Devaney last year, Niese was not the talk of the town. It'll take time for people to recognize where he stands. Granted, he's not perfect, but he still is young and developing.

by thudean on May 3, 2007 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

Ive heard

his upside is Cliff Lee

by Peter North on May 3, 2007 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

Niese & NY...

It's not always a bad thing when a prospect can fly under the radar in NY. You could make the argument that it keeps their value down on the trade market, but this Met regime hasn't made any panic moves, yet. It's a weird concept that most Met fans are still getting used to...

by MetfanBren on May 3, 2007 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

NY Market

I always heard his fastball had more pop on it than has been reported by John and BA. Its interesting because he seems to have a bunch of mediocre pitches but nothing to truly rely on. Maybe his fastball is his plus pitch with movement and late life but who knows.
It also surprises me that his name isn't brought up more in NY. He seems like a decent prospect who projects to add more velocity because of his small frame.

by JD Sussman on May 3, 2007 8:01 PM EDT reply actions

Mets system

The Mets system will help keep him anonymous for awhile; on his own team, as well as he's pitched, Guerra has pitched even better. Outside of that, Gomez's speed and Fernando's age make for more compelling print than groundballing lefties in Low-A, no matter what their upside.

by MontrealMets on May 4, 2007 2:00 AM EDT reply actions

This is a nice feature...

Maybe Mr.Sickels can do this for all teams... A reflection on an interesting name from the past (like Hojo) and a review on an unknown (ok.. not so famous) prospect (like Niese)...

by louief1 on May 4, 2007 10:26 AM EDT reply actions