Melvin Nieves
Born: 12/28/1971 in San Juan, P.R.
MLB Debut: 1992-09-01 | Final Game: 1998-09-14
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 185 lbs
Biography
Melvin Nieves was a professional baseball player born in 1971, who played in Major League Baseball from 1992 until his retirement on September 14, 1998. Known primarily as a position player, Nieves had a career that spanned over six seasons, during which he appeared in 458 games. He recorded a total of 284 hits, including 63 home runs, and drove in 187 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .231. His contributions on the field were complemented by his speed, as he also managed to steal 4 bases during his time in the league.
Nieves' career unfolded during a transformative time in baseball, characterized by a shift towards more offensive-minded play and an increase in home run totals across the league. While he may not have been a household name, Nieves brought a combination of power and athleticism to the teams he played for, including the San Diego Padres and the Detroit Tigers. His ability to perform in the majors highlighted the growing diversity in the game, as he was part of a wave of players who made significant impacts in the late 1990s. After his playing days, Nieves remained a figure in the baseball community, contributing to the sport and inspiring future generations of players.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 458 | 1228 | 163 | 284 | 53 | 6 | 63 | 187 | 4 | 136 | 483 | 0.231 | 0.314 | 0.438 | 0.752 | -260.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | ATL | NL | 12 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.211 | 0.0 |
| 1993 | SDP | NL | 19 | 47 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 0.191 | -171.2 |
| 1994 | SDP | NL | 10 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0.263 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | SDP | NL | 98 | 234 | 32 | 48 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 38 | 2 | 19 | 88 | 0.205 | -444.1 |
| 1996 | DET | AL | 120 | 431 | 71 | 106 | 23 | 4 | 24 | 60 | 1 | 44 | 158 | 0.246 | 358.8 |
| 1997 | DET | AL | 116 | 359 | 46 | 82 | 18 | 1 | 20 | 64 | 1 | 39 | 157 | 0.228 | 11.2 |
| 1998 | CIN | NL | 83 | 119 | 8 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 26 | 42 | 0.252 | -15.1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| OF | 335 | 272 | 566 | 20 | 23 | 4 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | ATL | OF | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1993 | SDN | OF | 15 | 11 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | SDN | OF | 6 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | SDN | 1B | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | SDN | OF | 79 | 49 | 95 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | DET | OF | 105 | 104 | 207 | 9 | 13 | 2 |
| 1997 | DET | OF | 99 | 84 | 187 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| 1998 | CIN | OF | 25 | 18 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2 |
| Left Field | 91 |
| Center Field | 8 |
| Right Field | 243 |
| Designated Hitter | 25 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | CIN | NL | $820,000 |
| 1997 | DET | AL | $335,000 |
| 1996 | DET | AL | $170,000 |
| 1995 | SDN | NL | $125,000 |
| 1994 | SDN | NL | $118,000 |
| 1993 | SDN | NL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,677,000 | ||