Jon Niese
A durable left-handed starter who became a reliable innings-eater for the New York Mets during a period of pitching resurgence.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American baseball player·Birthday: October 27·Millennials
Biography
Jon Niese emerged from Defiance, Ohio, a small-town lefty with a sharp curveball that would define his career. Drafted by the New York Mets in 2005, he climbed through a farm system hungry for homegrown talent. By 2008, he was in the majors, and for the better part of eight seasons, he was a fixture in the Mets' rotation. His tenure peaked alongside the team's rise, contributing steady, often gritty outings during their 2015 run to the World Series. Niese wasn't a flamethrower; his game was about craft and consistency, logging over 180 innings in four separate seasons. After a trade to Pittsburgh and a brief return to New York, injuries curtailed his career, but he left as a testament to the value of a dependable arm.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jon was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched a one-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres in 2010, striking out six batters.
- Recorded a career-high 13 wins for the New York Mets during the 2012 season.
- Hit a grand slam in 2015, becoming one of only a handful of pitchers in Mets history to do so.
Did You Know?
He was drafted in the 7th round of the 2005 MLB draft, the 209th overall pick.
Niese underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in 2017, which ultimately led to his retirement.
He hit three home runs in his major league career, all as a member of the Mets.
“I trusted my curveball; it was my out pitch for a reason.”
