Monday, June 04, 2001
Nichting looks like 'prospect' at 35
Elder grad gets 1st try with Reds
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Nichting
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Chris Nichting says there's some truth to the story. “But it's kind of turned into folklore,” he said.
Here's the story: Before Nichting's senior season at Elder High in 1984, he went to his coach, Jerry Federle, and said he was thinking about giving up baseball. That was just after the 1984 Winter Games. Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, the long-shot English ski jumper, had become a hero. Nichting thought he might try ski jumping instead of baseball.
That's Federle's version. Nichting says he was having a bit of an identity crisis, looking for something new.
“I wasn't sure baseball was for me,” Nichting said. “I had no illusions of going to college and playing or having a pro career. (Federle) told me he could help get a scholarship or at least a partial scholarship. That talk meant a lot to me.”
Federle put Nichting on the path that led, 17 years later, to a spot in the Reds' bullpen. Nichting is 35 years old, but he may be on the verge of his big break.
He made his Reds debut Saturday, working 1 2/3 innings. The right-hander allowed a hit, struck out two and turned a few heads. He followed that with 1 2/3 scoreless innings Sunday, striking out two more.
“He showed me major-league stuff,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “He can get major-league hitters out with that.”
Nichting struck out J.D. Drew on three pitches that were clocked at 94, 93 and 94 mph.
“He made Drew move,” Boone said. “That's something we haven't seen. He made him change his swing.”
“Is this an opportunity? At 35?” Nichting said.“Guys who are 23 to 28 are considered prospects. I'm probably looked at as a free agent who might be able to help a team here and there.”
Nichting's path to the majors began after the chat with Federle. Nichting went on to help Elder win the 1984 state championship. He caught the attention of recruiters and ended up going to Northwestern, where he was an All-American and an economics major.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made him their third-round pick in 1987. He was named the top prospect in the Dodgers organization that year after going 11-4 with a 2.09 ERA in rookie ball.
But by the end of that season, he was pitching with a bad shoulder.
“I should have said something then,” he said. “But I was a high draft pick, a prospect. I thought I had to pitch through it.”
He pitched again the next season.
He finally had reconstructive shoulder surgery. He re-injured the shoulder during rehab and needed more surgery. He didn't pitch for two years.
When he returned to baseball, his fastball, which once hit 99 mph, wasn't the same. Then he hurt his elbow in 1993. The Dodgers released him after the 1994 season. That began a cycle. Every year, he'd home come to East Price Hill and work to find a team to play for. Some years, it wasn't easy.
But Nichting always found a job — first with Texas, then Oakland, Cleveland, the New York Yankees, Cleveland again and finally the Reds.
“Three years ago, I was almost out of baseball,” he said, “and I was still throwing 93, 94. You hear about everyone needing pitching. But I don't think they look in all the right places.”
The job with the Reds came because Nichting knew Tim Naehring, the club's director of player development.
Nichting pitched well enough in spring training to make the club.
“From Day 1, he looked pretty special,” Boone said. “But when you're non-roster and you're the 13th, 14th guy, it's tough. If you're not significantly better, they go with the guy on the roster.”
Nichting knew that might be the case — until the Reds brought him up from Triple-A Louisville. He was leading the International League with a 2-1 record and a 2.67 ERA and had 17 saves.
This is Nichting's third stint in the big leagues. He was with the Texas Rangers in 1995. He pitched 13 games, going 0-0 with a 7.03 ERA. Last year he appeared in seven games for Cleveland, going 0-0 with a 7.00 ERA.
But playing for the Reds rates as a highlight. He grew up a Reds fan.
When you ask if he'll play next year, Nichting shrugs his shoulders. He is just short of his degree.
“I've got some business opportunities,” he said. “I'm not at all worried about life after baseball.
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Nichting looks like 'prospect' at 35
