Lance Niekro
Encyclopedia
Lance William Niekro is a former Major League Baseball
player, nephew of Phil Niekro
, and son of Joe Niekro
. Niekro currently serves as an assistant coach at Florida Southern College
.
Niekro was drafted out of Florida Southern by the San Francisco Giants
in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
. He began his professional career as a third baseman
, but moved to first base
in the minor leagues due to injury. Niekro first reached the major leagues in , but only had five at bat
s. He saw more substantial playing time in , when he split time with J. T. Snow
at first base and played in 113 games, finishing the season with a .252 batting average
, 12 home run
s, and 46 RBI
in 278 at-bats.
Following the 2005 season, Snow and the Giants parted ways. As a result, Niekro was given his shot as the everyday first baseman, but was sent back down to the minors. During the season, his replacements were Mark Sweeney
, Travis Ishikawa
, Chad Santos
, and Shea Hillenbrand
.
On May 4, , the Giants designated Niekro for assignment and recalled Scott Munter
from Triple-A Fresno. He was later optioned to Fresno when no other team claimed him. He became a free agent
after the season. Like his father and uncle, Niekro can throw a knuckleball
, and was first allowed to pitch professionally for the Grizzlies in August 2007.
On January 10, , the Houston Astros
signed Niekro to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
. He was released on May 2, 2008 and retired, getting a job with a telecommunications company.
On December 18, 2008, Niekro decided to make a comeback as a knuckleball pitcher and was signed by the Atlanta Braves to a minor league contract. He pitched one season in the Braves system, appearing in 14 games for the Gulf Coast League Braves in before becoming a free agent at the end of the year. In , he was named an assistant coach at Florida Southern.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player, nephew of Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
, and son of Joe Niekro
Joe Niekro
Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of Minor League Baseball pitcher Lance Niekro. A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and attended West...
. Niekro currently serves as an assistant coach at Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
.
Niekro was drafted out of Florida Southern by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...
. He began his professional career as a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, but moved to first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in the minor leagues due to injury. Niekro first reached the major leagues in , but only had five at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s. He saw more substantial playing time in , when he split time with J. T. Snow
J. T. Snow
Jack Thomas "J. T." Snow, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. He played all but two games in his career as a first baseman, and played nine of his 13½ seasons with the San Francisco Giants...
at first base and played in 113 games, finishing the season with a .252 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, 12 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and 46 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 278 at-bats.
Following the 2005 season, Snow and the Giants parted ways. As a result, Niekro was given his shot as the everyday first baseman, but was sent back down to the minors. During the season, his replacements were Mark Sweeney
Mark Sweeney
Mark Patrick Sweeney is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. He is best known for his skill as a pinch hitter, where he ranks second in career pinch hits with 175 and first in career pinch hit runs batted in with 102....
, Travis Ishikawa
Travis Ishikawa
Travis Takashi Ishikawa |Washington]]) is an American Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently with the San Francisco Giants organization...
, Chad Santos
Chad Santos
Chad Roque Santos is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed....
, and Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
.
On May 4, , the Giants designated Niekro for assignment and recalled Scott Munter
Scott Munter
Scott Michael Munter is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently playing in the San Diego Padres organization. He attended St. James/Seton grade school and Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska...
from Triple-A Fresno. He was later optioned to Fresno when no other team claimed him. He became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
after the season. Like his father and uncle, Niekro can throw a knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
, and was first allowed to pitch professionally for the Grizzlies in August 2007.
On January 10, , the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
signed Niekro to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He was released on May 2, 2008 and retired, getting a job with a telecommunications company.
On December 18, 2008, Niekro decided to make a comeback as a knuckleball pitcher and was signed by the Atlanta Braves to a minor league contract. He pitched one season in the Braves system, appearing in 14 games for the Gulf Coast League Braves in before becoming a free agent at the end of the year. In , he was named an assistant coach at Florida Southern.