The biggest difference appears to be the success of his cutter, which opposing hitters teed off on in 2011 (.364 BAA, .586 SLG), but found much less success against last season (.238 BAA, .376 SLG). Batters were hitting .336 off his cutter and .321 off his curveball. Niese posted a 4.43 ERA in August, then saw the bottom fall out, posting a 7.11 ERA and 1.974 WHIP in September, likely due to fatigue in his first full season in the majors. The latest stats, facts, news and notes on Jonathon Niese of the Seattle $0.99. "Do you have a favorite quote from or about this particular Jon Niese Autograph on a 2010 Topps Baseball Card (#NYM2)Did you know that you can compare Jonathon Niese to other rookies who also had their Major League debut during the Despite his 2016 results, the 30-year-old will still likely be given the chance to win a back-end rotation spot somewhere, though he may not have much of a margin for error if he continues to struggle.Niese has never been a steady source of strikeouts, but last season brought a new level of his contact-heavy approach, as he generated a career-low 5.8-percent swinging-strike rate but managed to post the highest groundball rate (54.5 percent) of his career. The club has not confirmed them.According to MLB Network insider Joel Sherman, if Niese passes the physical, the Yankees will sign and bring him to … 2/3 starter in the majors.Niese lost 21 pounds before the 2007 season to try and prevent a previously bothersome arm injury and to improve his conditioning. 2015 Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball #207 Jonathon Niese New York Mets. Jonathon Joseph Niese (born October 27, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Jonathon Niese career pitching statistics for Major League, Minor League, and postseason baseball The former New York Mets pitcher will serve as additional rotation depth and a much-needed lefty starter with MLB experience. 2013 Topps Heritage Baseball #84 Jonathon Niese New York Mets. Features Mets pitcher Jon Niese personally hand-signed this MLB Baseball. The Yankees and veteran left-hander Jonathon Niese agreed to a Minor League deal pending a physical, according to multiple reports on Sunday. That said, Niese was hurt by a low 69.7 percent strand rate and .349 BABIP, which is evident in his 3.36 FIP compared to his 4.40 ERA. In fact, if you are able to carefully deploy him for just the home starts, he becomes a very valuable asset. The lefty struggled in a big way in Pittsburgh, though, giving up 21 home runs and walking too many batters on his way to a 4.91 ERA before the Pirates decided to cut their losses and trade him back to the Mets right before the trade deadline. He dealt with a knee injury there and had many of the same problems -- giving up nine walks and four home runs in just 11 innings -- in his return to Queens. After returning, Niese went 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 54:13 K:BB ratio while batters hit .246 and .225, respectively, against his cutter and curveball. Pushed out of New York with the arrival of the team's bumper crop of young arms, Niese was flipped to the Pirates in December for second baseman Neil Walker, where he will be another retooling project for Pittsburgh pitching coach Ray Searage.Niese has developed into a really solid arm and while he is far from a stud, he has value. Niese must be more effective with his change-up to righties, as they blasted him for a .291 BAA. 2 starter.Niese recovered nicely from a 2009 hamstring injury to win a spot in the Mets' rotation out of spring training and then pitched well in three of the first four months of the year. February 19, 2017 2009 Bowman Baseball #210 Jonathon Niese RC New York Mets. Per a report by New York Post’s Joel Sherman, the New York Yankees will be signing free agent left-handed pitcher Jon Niese to a minor-league contract. The Yankees and veteran left-hander Jonathon Niese agreed to a Minor League deal pending a physical, according to multiple reports on Sunday. The key for him, like most pitchers, is establishing his secondary pitches for strikes as his fastball is not overpowering.