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Niemann Ready For Whatever Role Awaits

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Niemann has a 21-11 record, 3.78 ERA and 251 strikeouts in 49 Triple-A starts the past two seasons.

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2009

PORT CHARLOTTE - Jeff Niemann has only five major-league appearances to his credit, but in many regards 2009 qualifies as a make-or-break year for the former first-round pick.

Niemann is out of options, so the Rays can't send him to the minors without the risk of losing him through waivers. As a guy who has a 21-11 record, 3.78 ERA and 251 strikeouts in 49 Triple-A starts the past two seasons, he would be snapped up by another team in a heartbeat.

Those qualities give the 26-year-old his best chance yet to become a full-time member of the Rays after a couple of cameo stints on the roster last season. Team officials have said Niemann will be one of four pitchers given an opportunity to win the final spot in the starting rotation this spring, and even if that effort fails there's a chance he could end up in the bullpen.

Wherever Niemann ends up on Opening Day, at least there will be some resolution.

"It's nice knowing there's light at the end of the tunnel," he said Tuesday.

Niemann had a chance to show off his starting and relief skills in two stints with the Rays last season. He made a pair of starts in April after Matt Garza went on the disabled list, then tallied three relief appearances later as a September call-up.

"Either way is great with me," Niemann said. "It was a good thing last year to have that experience coming out of the bullpen at the end of the season. It's something I did in college a little bit, but I never really had a real taste of what it's really like to be a bullpen guy."

Manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday that in a relief role, Niemann likely would be used initially in the same way J.P. Howell was early last season. Howell served mainly as a long reliever early on but earned the right to pitch in tighter situations late in the game based on his performance. Maddon sees that potential in Niemann.

"Physically, absolutely he's capable of pitching later in the game," Maddon said.

It could come to that for Niemann, but in the meantime he's focused on maximizing his shot at a starting job. He'll have to beat out Mitch Talbot, Jason Hammel and David Price to make the cut.

"To be in the rotation of a team that was in the World Series the year before is a dream come true for a lot of pitchers out there," he said. "Just to be in the situation, pitching for it, is going to bring out a lot in us. We all know the situation and what's going on. I'm really looking forward to it."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227.

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