Baseball Player Magazine

It’s one last trip around the bases for Kevin Nieto. For three seasons, he’s done as much, if not more, than almost any player in Manhattan College history, and by the time he’s done, it will show in the Jasper record books. Hits, runs, steals, he’s in the mix and could very well end up on top of the leaderboard, surpassing even his brother Eric, an ’08 graduate, who’s largely responsible for each playing their college ball in Riverdale. 

But more than individual milestones, Nieto is chasing the one piece of hardware that his brother has but he does not: a MAAC Tournament championship. The past two years, the Jaspers have captured the conference regular season title only to fall short. The shortcomings still resonate with Nieto. He’s hoping this season, his final season as a collegian, will be different, as the Jaspers return seven starters and an experienced pitching staff. 

“In high school, my brother won the state championship; I came up short,” said Nieto, who followed his brother north two years after Steve Trimper, the former head coach at Manhattan, lured Eric to Riverdale. “Here at Manhattan, he won the tournament and went on to beat Nebraska, and we haven’t won it yet. I have a couple more personal accomplishments, but he has the great team accomplishments that I want to achieve. It definitely motivates me.” 

In three seasons, Nieto’s done just about all that has been asked. His junior year numbers were staggering. The Miami native led all of Division I by averaging 1.57 runs per game and set a MAAC single season record with 72 runs altogether. Moreover, he led the conference in slugging percentage (.754) and finished in the top five in home runs (13), total bases (141), on-base percentage (.480) and stolen bases (25). He has been named All-MAAC three times and was also selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-America Third Team. Even though Nieto and company won a school record 35 games during the regular season and were seeded first in the MAAC tourney, they dropped to Canisius and Marist on day two, to be sent home early. It’s left much to be desired in 2010. This year, the Jaspers were voted the preseason favorites in the conference, and he gathered his share of individual accolades, including conference preseason player of the year. He also entered the season just 31 hits short of tying his brother on the all-time hits list. It would be just one category in which Kevin Nieto ended up first. Still, his first conference tournament title in his last go-around would top it all. 

“We’re all working hard for it,” Nieto said. “That’s what we’re all focused on. It’s my senior year, it’s my last go at it, so I’m going to give it all I’ve got. I’m sure everyone else on the team is going to also.” 

And then there’s the other goal, to get taken in June’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. His production is undeniable, but it’s his stature, 5-9, 182 lbs, that casts doubt on his draft status. He’s aware of the question marks, and it’s a similar situation faced by his cast mates in the Jaspers’ starting outfield, Mike McCann and Mark Onorati, both 5-10, 175 lbs. Despite that, they pile up numbers that stack up against the best outfields in the country,all hit over .350 and slugged .500 or better in 2009. 

“This year, I’m just trying to have fun and do the best I can,” Nieto said. “If everything works out, so be it.” 

The Jaspers will spend the better part of their season jockeying for position in the MAAC Tournament, but ultimately, it will come down to winning that final game in the May Classic. That, at last, would fulfill the last part of Nieto’s storied collegiate career. 

“That is our College World Series,” Nieto said. “I’d trade everything just to be able to get a ring.”