Fernando Alexis Nieve 'knee-EH-veh''(born July 15, 1982) is a

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

n former right-handed professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...

and

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

and in

Korea Baseball Organization The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO; ) is the Sport governing body, governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. The KBO was founded in 1981 and has governed two leagues: the KBO League () and KBO Futures League ( (F ...

(KBO) for the

Doosan Bears The Doosan Bears () are a South Korean professional baseball team based in Seoul. Founded in 1982, they are a member of the KBO League. The Bears have won six Korean Series titles (1982, 1995, 2001, 2015, 2016, and 2019) and play their home game ...

. Current Minor League Pitching Coach at

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

Career

Houston Astros

Nieve was signed by the

as an amateur free agent in 1999. After two seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League he came to the U.S. to play for the rookie league

Martinsville Astros The Martinsville Astros were a short season minor league baseball team located in Martinsville, Virginia. The team was affiliated with the Houston Astros and played in the Appalachian League from 1999 to 2003. Martinsville was also home to the ...

. He was a

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

all-star in 2005 with the

Corpus Christi Hooks The Corpus Christi Hooks are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team is owned b ...

, when he was 4–2 with a 2.65 ERA in 14 starts. He made his major league debut with the

on April 4, 2006 against the

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park. The ...

. He made his first start on April 16 against the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

and picked up his first win on May 2 against the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

. He was 3–3 in 40 appearances, 11 starts with the Astros in 2006, with a 4.20 ERA. He missed the 2007 season with after undergoing

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...

and returned to appear in 11 games in 2008, all in relief and as 0–1 with an 8.44 ERA.

New York Mets

In March 2009, Nieve was claimed off waivers by the

and was called to the major league team in June when reliever

J. J. Putz Joseph Jason Putz (; born February 22, 1977) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. Early life an ...

was placed on the disabled list. In, 2010, due to his early workload, Mets' TV announcers began referring to him as "Nightly" Nieve. He was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

on July 23, 2010. After he was let go by the Mets, he rejoined the organization and pitched in the

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...

rotation.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On December 1, 2010, Nieve signed a minor league contract with the

, which included an invite to spring training. He was released by the Pirates on March 22, 2011.

Return to Astros

On March 24, 2011, Nieve signed a minor league contract with the

. He was released a month later.

Doosan Bears

After being granted his release by the Astros on April 27, 2011, Nieve signed with the

in South Korea.

Los Angeles Dodgers

He signed a minor league contract with the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

in December 2011. He was assigned to the AAA

Albuquerque Isotopes The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an ...

. He made 25 starts for the Isotopes and was 7-9 with a 5.96 ERA.

Cleveland Indians

Nieve was a non-roster invitee to the Indians' spring training camp in 2013. His contract was purchased by the Indians on April 21, 2013. He was

the next day without making an appearance.

Oakland Athletics

Nieve was traded to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations on August 3, 2013. He was assigned to the AAA

Sacramento River Cats The Sacramento River Cats are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Prior to 2015, the River Cats were the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland ...

. He became a free agent on October 1. He re-signed on November 18, 2013.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

On June 13, 2014, Nieve signed a minor league deal with the Angels.

Sugar Land Skeeters

Nieve signed with the

Sugar Land Skeeters The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball club. They are located in Sugar Land, Texas, part of the G ...

for the 2015 season.

Guerreros de Oaxaca

On April 10, 2016, Nieve signed with the

Guerreros de Oaxaca The Guerreros de Oaxaca (English: Oaxaca Warriors) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico. Their home field is Estadio Eduardo Vasconcelos. History In October 1995, a group of businessmen, ...

of the

Mexican Baseball League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. He was released on September 23, 2016.

Rojos del Águila de Veracruz

On April 11, 2017, Nieve signed with the Rojos del Águila de Veracruz of the

. He was released on June 24, 2017.

Generales de Durango

On July 11, 2017, Nieve signed with the Generales de Durango of the

T&A San Marino

On August 10, 2017, Nieve signed with the T&A San Marino of the

Italian Baseball League The Italian Baseball League (IBL, ), officially known as the Serie A (), is the top-level baseball league in Italy. Founded in 1948, it is governed by the Italian Baseball & Softball Federation (FIBS), which has its headquarters in Rome. Many o ...

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos

On July 2, 2018, Nieve signed with the

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (English: Two Laredos Owls), formerly known as the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo (English: Nuevo Laredo Owls), are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. The Tecolotes are a binational baseball team, spli ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. He was released on August 13, 2018.

Coaching career

Nieve retired and became the pitching coach of the

GCL Pirates The Florida Complex League Pirates are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Pirates. The team plays its hom ...

for the 2019 season. He was named pitching coach of the

Greensboro Grasshoppers The Greensboro Grasshoppers are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greensboro, North Carolina. They are members of the South Atlantic League and are the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They play their home games at First National B ...

for the 2023 season. He was named pitching coach of the Double-A affiliate

Altoona Curve The Altoona Curve are a Minor League Baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve (but also alluding to the curveball, a type of pitch). The team plays in the Eastern League and is the Double-A affiliate of ...

for the 2024 season. He was named pitching coach of the FCL Pirates the rookie level affiliate of the

for the 2025 season.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nieve, Fernando 1982 births Living people Albuquerque Isotopes players Binghamton Mets players Bravos de Margarita players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Caribes de Anzoátegui players Columbus Clippers players Corpus Christi Hooks players Doosan Bears players Generales de Durango players Guerreros de Oaxaca players Houston Astros players KBO League pitchers Leones del Caracas players Lexington Legends players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Venezuela 21st-century Venezuelan sportsmen Martinsville Astros players Mexican League baseball pitchers Navegantes del Magallanes players New York Mets players Oklahoma City RedHawks players Baseball players from Puerto Cabello Piratas de Campeche players Rojos del Águila de Veracruz players Round Rock Express players Sacramento River Cats players Salem Avalanche players Salt Lake Bees players Southern Maryland Blue Crabs players T & A San Marino players Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos players Sugar Land Skeeters players Venezuela national baseball team players Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Mexico Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in South Korea Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in San Marino Venezuelan Summer League La Pradera players 2015 WBSC Premier12 players