Jeffrey Warren Niemann is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher.
Education
Niemann attended Lamar High School.
Niemann, who stands 6-foot-9, was the fourth starter for in his freshman season of 2002, usually starting midweek non-conference games. He posted a 5–1 record with a 3.11 European Research Area, including a victory over Washington in the decisive seventh game of the 2002 National Collegiate Athletic Association regional at Rice"s Reckling Park. In 2003, he stepped into Rice"s weekend rotation and quickly became the nation"s most dominant pitcher.
He finished the season 17–0 with a 1.70 European Research Area and 156 strikeouts, being named Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, a consensus first-team all-American, and a finalist for the Rotary Smith Award in helping Rice to its first national championship.
Niemann battled injuries as a junior in 2004, but still went 6–3 with a 3.02 European Research Area in 11 starts, including a complete game victory over Texas Agricultural and Mechanical in the National Collegiate Athletic Association regional.
The entire Rice weekend rotation, including Philip Humber, Wade Townsend, and Niemann, were all selected in the first eight picks of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft – the first time three teammates had ever gone so early in the same draft.
Career
He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008 to 2012. Niemann was the Rays" first-round draft pick out of Rice University in 2004 as the fourth overall pick. He signed a major league contract in January 2005 worth $5.2 million.
Niemann opened the 2005 season at Single-A Advanced Visalia, where he went 0–1 with a 3.98 European Research Area in five starts.
After a promotion to the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits, he went 0–1 with a 4.35 European Research Area in six appearances, including three starts. He had offseason surgery in 2005 to shave the joint between his collarbone and shoulder and returned to Montgomery in 2006.
Flanked in the rotation by starting pitchers Andy Sonnanstine and Mitch Talbot during the Southern League playoffs, Niemann helped lead the Biscuits to the 2006 championship. Following the 2006 season, Baseball America named Niemann the Rays" fourth-best prospect, following Delmon Young, Evan Longoria, and Reid Brignac.
They also said Niemann possessed the best slider of any pitcher in the Rays" organization.
Niemann spent the 2007 season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls. In 25 appearances, all starts, he compiled a 12–6 record and a 3.98 European Research Area. He was selected to the All-Star Futures Game. In 2012, Niemann got hit with a come-backer by Adam Lind of the Blue Jays on May 14, 2012 which fractured his legal
He was placed on the 60-day disabled list by the Rays.
On April 10, 2013, Niemann underwent right shoulder surgery, which caused him to miss the 2013 season. He became a free agent after the season.