{{short description|Venezuelan baseball player (born 1982)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography| |name=Fernando Nieve |image=IMG 8302 Fernando Nieve.jpg |caption=Nieve while with the New York Mets |position=Pitcher |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1982|7|15}} |birth_place=Puerto Cabello, Venezuela |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=April 4 |debutyear=2006 |debutteam=Houston Astros |debut2league = KBO |debut2date=May 7 |debut2year=2011 |debut2team=Doosan Bears |finalleague= MLB |finaldate= July 21 |finalyear= 2010 |finalteam= New York Mets |final2league= KBO |final2date= October 6 |final2year= 2011 |final2team= Doosan Bears |statyear= |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Win–loss record |stat1value=8–11 |stat2label=Earned run average |stat2value=4.61 |stat3label=Strikeouts |stat3value=143 |stat2league = KBO |stat21label=Win–loss record |stat21value=3–6 |stat22label=Earned run average |stat22value=6.09 |stat23label=Strikeouts |stat23value=66 |teams= *Houston Astros ({{mlby|2006}}, {{mlby|2008}}) *New York Mets ({{mlby|2009}}–{{mlby|2010}}) *Doosan Bears ({{kboy|2011}}) }} '''Fernando Alexis Nieve''' [''knee-EH-veh''] (born July 15, 1982) is a Venezuelan former right-handed professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and New York Mets, and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears. He currently serves as a minor league pitching coach for the Washington Nationals.
==Playing career== ===Houston Astros=== thumb|left|Nieve (64) with the Astros in 2006. Nieve was signed by the Houston Astros 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. He was a Texas League all-star in 2005 with the Corpus Christi Hooks, when he was 4–2 with a 2.65 ERA in 14 starts. He made his major league debut with the Houston Astros on April 4, 2006 against the Florida Marlins. He made his first start on April 16 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and picked up his first win on May 2 against the Milwaukee Brewers. 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 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 New York Mets and was called to the major league team in June when reliever J. J. Putz 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 on July 23, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2010/07/nieve-dfad-acosta-on-the-way.html? |title=Nieve DFA'd, Acosta on the way |first=Andy |last=Martino |date=23 July 2010 |newspaper=New York Daily News |accessdate=20 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726082212/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2010/07/nieve-dfad-acosta-on-the-way.html |archivedate=26 July 2010 }}</ref> After he was let go by the Mets, he rejoined the organization and pitched in the Buffalo Bisons rotation.
===Pittsburgh Pirates=== On December 1, 2010, Nieve signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, which included an invite to spring training.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&line=309426&id=126 |title=Fernando Nieve's profile |publisher=rotoworld.com |accessdate=December 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222142947/http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB |archivedate=February 22, 2009 }}</ref> 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 Houston Astros. He was released a month later.<ref name=Korea>{{cite web|title=Korea: Doosan Signs Pitcher Fernando Nieve|url=http://baseballdeworld.com/2011/04/29/korea-doosan-signs-pitcher-fernando-nieve/|work=baseballdeworld.com|accessdate=25 July 2011|archive-date=October 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005031839/http://baseballdeworld.com/2011/04/29/korea-doosan-signs-pitcher-fernando-nieve/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Doosan Bears=== After being granted his release by the Astros on April 27, 2011, Nieve signed with the Doosan Bears in South Korea.<ref name="Korea"/>
===Los Angeles Dodgers=== Nieve signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 14, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dodgers Sign Bard, Ledezma, Castillo, Guzman, More|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/dodgers-sign-bard-ledezma-castillo-guzman-more.html|access-date=September 27, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref> He was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. Nieve 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 designated for assignment the next day without making an appearance.
===Oakland Athletics=== Nieve was traded to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations on August 3, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/03/athletics-acquire-reliever-fernando-nieve-from-indians/|title = Athletics acquire reliever Fernando Nieve from Indians|date = 3 August 2013}}</ref> He was assigned to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. He became a free agent on October 1.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220224/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_trn&sid=milb&lid=112&ymd=201310 October 2013 minor league transactions]</ref> Nieve re-signed with Oakland on November 18, 2013.
===Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim=== On June 13, 2014, Nieve signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
===Sugar Land Skeeters=== Nieve signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2015 season.
===Guerreros de Oaxaca=== On April 10, 2016, Nieve signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League. He was released by the Guerreros on September 23.
===Rojos del Águila de Veracruz=== On April 11, 2017, Nieve signed with the Rojos del Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League. He was released by the Rojos on June 24.
===Generales de Durango=== On July 11, 2017, Nieve signed with the Generales de Durango of the Mexican League.
===T&A San Marino=== On August 10, 2017, Nieve signed with the T&A San Marino of the Italian Baseball League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanmarinobaseball.com/ibl-1/1063-la-taa-ingaggia-il-pitcher-fernando-nieve.html|title=La T&A ingaggia il pitcher Fernando Nieve|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=|archive-date=August 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812211036/http://www.sanmarinobaseball.com/ibl-1/1063-la-taa-ingaggia-il-pitcher-fernando-nieve.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos=== On July 2, 2018, Nieve signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League. He was released by the Tecolotes on August 13.
==Coaching career== ===Pittsburgh Pirates=== Nieve retired and became the pitching coach of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Pirates for the 2019 season. He was named pitching coach of the Greensboro Grasshoppers for the 2023 season. Nieve was named pitching coach of the Double-A affiliated Altoona Curve for the 2024 season. He was named as the pitching coach of the Florida Complex League Pirates, the rookie-level affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, for the 2025 season.
===Washington Nationals=== On January 29, 2026, Nieve was announced as the pitching coach for the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Washington Nationals announce Minor League Coaches, Coordinators and Staff|url=https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/washington-nationals-announce-minor-league-coaches-coordinators-and-staff.html|access-date=February 15, 2026|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=430588|espn=6485|br=n/nievefe01|fangraphs=2173|brm=nieve-001fer|retro=N/Pnievf001}}
{{Venezuela roster 2015 WBSC Premier12}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nieve, Fernando}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Albuquerque Isotopes players Category:Binghamton Mets players Category:Bravos de Margarita players Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Category:Caribes de Anzoátegui players Category:Columbus Clippers players Category:Corpus Christi Hooks players Category:Doosan Bears players Category:Generales de Durango players Category:Guerreros de Oaxaca players Category:Houston Astros players Category:KBO League pitchers Category:Leones del Caracas players Category:Lexington Legends players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Major League Baseball players from Venezuela Category:21st-century Venezuelan sportsmen Category:Martinsville Astros players Category:Mexican Baseball League pitchers Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players Category:New York Mets players Category:Oklahoma City RedHawks players Category:Baseball players from Puerto Cabello Category:Piratas de Campeche players Category:Rojos del Águila de Veracruz players Category:Round Rock Express players Category:Sacramento River Cats players Category:Salem Avalanche players Category:Salt Lake Bees players Category:Southern Maryland Blue Crabs players Category:T & A San Marino players Category:Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos players Category:Sugar Land Skeeters players Category:Venezuela national baseball team players Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Mexico Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in South Korea Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in San Marino Category:Venezuelan Summer League La Pradera players Category:2015 WBSC Premier12 players