Crescent-News.com - Defiance's Jon Niese invited to major league baseball camp in Mets' organization

By TIM McDONOUGH

mcdonough@crescent-news.com

When pitchers and catchers report to spring training for the New York Mets on Thursday, Feb. 14, a fresh new face will be joining them. No, not Johan Santana ... former Defiance High School standout Jon Niese.

Niese, a seventh-round draft pick of the Mets in 2005, was invited to major league spring training after putting together a solid campaign for the (Single A Advanced) St. Lucie Mets a year ago.

The tall, lanky left-hander will be the third pitcher to be headed to major league spring training this year from the Defiance area, joining current major leaguer and former DHS standout Chad Billingsley of the Dodgers, and former Ayersville hurler Chad Reineke of the Houston Astros.

Niese just recently got the new from the Mets' brass.

"I got a call from Tony Bernazard (from the front office) and he said he was calling to check up on me and see how I was doing," said Niese. "He then said, 'by the way, we're sending you to the big league camp to see how you do.' I thought, that's pretty cool. There was talk I could be invited, but until it was set in stone I didn't know, but it is a pretty good feeling.

"I know I can't go to big league camp and starting changing what I do, I've told myself that I have to have the same mentality as if I were going to minor league camp," said Niese. "I know I can't go there and do something I'm not capable of doing, I'm going to go there to work and do what got me there. It's really a great honor to be asked to be a part of it."

The 21-year-old Niese is hopeful that an extra month of training camp will also give him a leg up on the season. Niese, who just recently began throwing again in preparation for spring training after not throwing since November, is hopeful that he can begin the season at the Double A level or higher.

Said Niese: "I'm not sure what the big league guys do before the minor league guys get there, but I'm excited to find out. I know there will be a lot of preparation to get ready for spring training games, and I think that the extra month will be good for me to get a little taste of big league life. From what the front office has told me, they'd like me to start at Double A (Binghamton, N.Y), but if I do well I could go even higher (Triple A New Orleans)."

A season ago Niese finished 11-7 for the St. Lucie Mets, who made their second straight appearance in the Florida State League playoffs. In 1341/3 innings pitched, Niese allowed 151 hits and 78 runs (64 earned), while striking out 110 and walking just 31. Niese finished the year with a 4.29 ERA.

Niese also got the nod to pitch the playoff opener against the Brevard County Manatees in the Florida State League playoff semifinals.

After struggling through a first inning in which he walked the first two batters of the game before striking out the side, Niese limited the Manatees to just one hit over six innings, while walking no more and striking out nine. The Mets won 8-0 and Niese earned the win, but the Manatees won the next two games to end St. Lucie's season.

"When I think back about that game, I know I was lucky to just get out of that first inning," laughed Niese. "I think I threw 30 pitches in the first inning and I was very close to getting pulled. I know there were guys up in the bullpen. After I got through that first inning, I sat down, took a deep breath and just told myself to relax.

"I don't know if I was dwelling on my last outing in the playoffs a year ago when I didn't pitch well, but after I got through that first inning, I just settled down," continued Niese. "I just went out and started throwing strikes and everything was just clicking after that."

Now Niese is headed to major league camp with his sights set high, but knowing he still has work to do to reach his ultimate goal of playing in the major leagues.

"I know I have a lot of work to do to reach my goal and I'm ready to get to work," concluded Niese. "Pitching is all about consistency and command and I know I have a long way to go to master all my pitches. Pitching inside is always a key for a pitcher too, and if I can't do that, I won't last long at big league camp. That's definitely something I can work on."