Sat Nov 07 2009
By TIM McDONOUGH
mcdonough@crescent-news.com
The speculation is over Jon Niese is headed to the big leagues.
The New York Mets confirmed on Sunday that Niese, the former Defiance High School standout, has been called up to the Mets from Triple A New Orleans to make his Major League Baseball pitching debut against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday in Milwaukee.
The game is scheduled to start at 8:05 p.m. (ESDT), but will not be available on TV in the Defiance six-county area without a subscription to the Major League Baseball television package.
New York manager Jerry Manuel confirmed the move on Sunday in a story on the Mets website by Anthony DiComo.
"That's just where we are," Manuel said. "That's our best option. You don't know what you're going to get, that's true. But you have talent."
Niese, a 21-year-old, left-handed starting pitcher, was 5-1 with Triple A New Orleans with a 3.40 ERA in seven starts. In 39 2/3 innings pitched for the Zephyrs, Niese struck out 32 and walked 14.
Those close to Niese believe he has what it takes to play at the major league level.
"Mentally, he's prepared," said Nick Evans, a teammate for much of the early season at Binghamton in Double A. "I don't have any reason to doubt that he's going to be ready to go."
"We think very highly of Jonathon Niese," said Tony Bernazard, the Mets' vice president of player development. "He's a 21-year-old that we expect to be an important member of this organization, this major league team. You have to perform at some point. You have to perform, and it happens to be Tuesday against a very good team."
Niese made three starts for the Mets during spring training, all of them after a tutoring lesson with Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, and finished with a 3.12 ERA. The lefty with the big 12-6 curveball and an improved cut-fastball has excelled at every level in the organization. That's why the Mets feel he's ready now to help them down the stretch.
"I don't know if you can ever prepare a young man for that," Manuel said. "You can talk about it, but that is one of those things that you have to experience."
Niese made his final start for New Orleans on Friday where he threw 65 pitches in 2 2/3 innings against Nashville. New Orleans won the game in 11 innings 11-10.
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