Sunday, July 18, 2004

Where are they now - Mike Nickeas / Jason Neighborgall

There have been plenty of updates on Nickes, as he has been tearing up the minors. Here's another mention:

"This year's draft class featured Nickeas, Ryan McCarthy (ninth round, Chicago White Sox), Jeff Dragicevich (18th round, Colorado Rockies), and Cory Taillon (29th round, St. Louis Cardinals), who were all undrafted out of high school.
Nickeas is off to the most impressive start.

The 21-year-old out of Georgia Tech entered the weekend in the midst of a hot streak that had him ranked sixth in the Single-A Northwest League with a .337 batting average. His eight doubles were tied for third most in the league.

Nickeas extended his hitting streak to 10 games Friday when he went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI, making him 7 for 14 with two home runs, three doubles and seven RBI in the past four games.

"It helps that you have a lot more time to work on your swing," said Nickeas, who batted .279 with eight home runs and 33 RBI this spring as a junior. "The resources here are phenomenal. They're here to help you, it's just how much time you want to put into it."

He couldn't think of a better way to spend his days. "It's better than I expected," Nickeas said. "It's a fantastic life, I get paid to play a kids' game."

Nickeas' presence at Westlake caused Taillon to be used as an outfielder with the Warriors."

Meanwhile, Jason Neighborgall got his first start for the Swampdogs - link here.
Georgia Tech sophomore pitcher Jason Neighborgall was a little wild in his first start for the SwampDogs on Saturday. But his velocity was enough to snap Fayetteville's five-game losing streak 5-2 over the Florence RedWolves in front of 1,957 fans at J.P. Riddle Stadium.

Neighborgall struggled with control in the top of the fourth. He walked the first three batters he faced in the inning and let Chris Egleton advance from first to home on three wild pitches.

Neighborgall gave up two runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out seven but also walked seven, hit two batters and threw four wild pitches.

Neighborgall made up for his wildness with his fastball. He regularly throws over 95 mph and has topped out at 102.

After the game, a Florence hitter told a friend over his cell phone that Neighborgall's pitches were so fast, they looked like golf balls from the batter's box. Fayetteville manager Sandy Moore attributed Neighborgall's wildness to the fact that he had few starts during the season at Georgia Tech.

''Ever since he's been in college, he's been a project," Moore said. ''They try to take him slow and work in the bullpen. Throwing in the bullpen is one thing, but you've got to keep running the guy out there."

Moore said he planned to give Neighborgall at least three more starts this season.