Interesting read on the Ex-Vandy star.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news ... &fext=.jsp
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Jeff Niemann looks like he's almost there. After nearly three years and a myriad of physical ailments, the big right-hander is on the verge of fulfilling the expectations heaped on him when the Devils Rays made him part of that ballyhooed 2004 draft.
A trio of starters from Rice University went in the first round that June with Tampa Bay tabbing Niemann fourth just after the Mets snagged Phil Humber with the No. 3 selection. Baltimore grabbed Wade Townsend with the eighth pick, but after he failed to sign the Rays reunited the former Rice teammates the following June by taking him eighth.
Professional baseball hasn't been particularly kind to these former Owls with only Humber getting a taste of life in the Major Leagues last year with New York. Injuries, surgeries and any other kind of "ies" that come to mind have held this group back at one time or another, but now Niemann appears closer than he's ever been to his goal of pitching in the Major Leagues.
He is making progress, his health being the most important.
Based on what he's shown this season, there are times when it's easy to see why he was so highly sought after coming out of school. He squared off against Minnesota's top pitching prospect, Kevin Slowey, in Rochester last Friday in what was rightfully billed as a big-time pitching matchup at Frontier Field.
He has 57 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings and has 183 strikeouts in 160 2/3 career innings. But after holding the opposition to a .194 batting average heading into this year, the International League hitters have had a bit more success, hitting at a .261 clip against him.
And when compared to Slowey, who hasn't had to battle injuries throughout his career and has a bit more mound time on his resume, the lack of polish was evident. One veteran baseball executive who was in attendance Friday night noted that there was "still a little something missing with Niemann."
Sounds like he's not ready though.
"He seems a little stiff, like he's not entirely comfortable out there yet," the executive said. "It's probably because he hasn't pitched all that much."
The start was Neimann's 36th professional appearance. Slowey, meanwhile, was making his 49th career appearance despite being drafted a year later than Niemann and that doesn't take into account the games he pitched for Team USA last summer or his appearance in the International League playoffs. Still, Niemann likes where he's at -- on the mound making progress instead of the disabled list.
"Things are starting to come around," Niemann said. "I feel comfortable. We [Humber and Townsend] have all had various issues. But now I'm pitching and worrying about results and throwing quality pitches. Last year I was just glad to get through five innings. It's nice to pitch and not have [the injuries] subconsciously somewhere in my mind.
But, he is beginning to figure it out.
"I'm doing everything I can to go out there and throw every fifth day. There have been some good days and some bad days. I'm just trying to fine-tune some things. I feel pretty close to having everything where I want it to be."
Niemann isn't about to make predictions about where he wants to be by season's end. He's hopeful he'll get a look at life as a Devil Ray sometime before 2007 is over but refuses to put a timetable on his performance.
Maybe in September, maybe not.
