Riverdale, NY - Former Manhattan standout Eric Nieto '08 enjoyed a standout four-year career with the Jaspers while helping the program to its first MAAC Championship. We recently caught up with Nieto, who is working for the Detroit Tigers at their spring training facility in Lakeland, FL.
GoJaspers: What is your official title?
Nieto: I am the assistant director of amateur & international scouting for the Detroit Tigers.
Q: In the 10 years since you graduated, you have risen up the ranks with the Tigers, could you tell us the path to get where you are now?
A: It's been an interesting path to say the least … I was fortunate enough to graduate from Manhattan College in 2008 after four great years as a member of the baseball team. The school prepared me for the next chapter in my life but the transition wasn't as seamless as I originally thought it would be. Most college ballplayers, not all, have one thing in mind and that's how am I going to get drafted and continue my baseball career. For me, unfortunately, that opportunity was never provided and it was time to lean on my degree to establish a career. For roughly three years post-graduation, I held a job with the social security administration in Miami. Not to say the experience was a negative one, but that line of work was not for me. One thing my mother always told me was to do what you love and you will never work a day in your life. My passion was always baseball and being involved with the game in some type of capacity has always been a goal and I had to figure out a way to get back in. In my mind, the formula was simple, go back to school, get your master's and someone will hire you. The pursuit began in 2011 after graduating with a degree in sports management from FIU. The goal was to land a full-time job in baseball, but I knew in the back of my mind an internship may be the only option due to my lack of industry experience. Calls were made and interviews conducted, but when it was all said and done positions were filled and I was on the outside looking in. I didn't let it discourage me and knew that sacrifices would have to be made to get my foot in the door. I finally broke through with an internship with the Tri-City Valley Cats (Houston Astros affiliate of the New York Penn League) as their administrative assistant for the 2012 season. This was far from the experience I was looking for but without it I wouldn't be where I am today. The following year, I was offered an internship with the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, FL within their international operations department. Hard work and sacrifice met luck and a full time position opened up within the department in August. I held the title of scouting assistant, international operations for three years. In September 2016, I was promoted to my current position.
Q: What does your job entail?
A: I assist our amateur scouting director and international operations director with the day-to-day responsibilities of those respective departments. The tasks vary and there are many tentacles to each one, but emphasis is placed on the year long preparation leading up to the annual MLB First-Year Player Draft, post-draft administration, the international signing period and signing bonus/operational budget administration.
Q: You had the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, what was the process of making that selection?
A: A lot was made of having that first pick of the draft, but as an organization the approach was the same as it has always been. I thought as a group, we did an excellent job of scouring the country in search of finding the talent that best fit our organization. One obvious benefit of having pick one, is the elimination of an opposing club selecting the player at the top of your board. Our list was developed and massaged leading up to that first pick but there was peace of mind in knowing that once we came to a group decision on who that player was going to be, he was ours.
Q: You have the distinction of being the first Miami-based Manhattan player and since your arrival the Jaspers have had 25 players from the state of Florida, how does this make you feel knowing you were the first?
A: Going into the recruiting process, Steve Trimper (former Manhattan and current Stetson coach) would always make it a point to remind me of that. For me, it's not so much being the first player from Miami to play baseball at Manhattan, it's knowing that 25 others have experienced what I went through.
Q: What do you think of when you hear the words Manhattan College
A: Manhattan is an exceptional school with excellent academics, but as a student-athlete everything you achieve as an individual and as a team is earned and not given. It's been a while since I've been back on campus, but I've seen the upgrades in the facilities that have been made throughout the years. A lot has changed in 10 years as I can recall the days of preparing VCP for the spring and digging snow off the field just to practice outdoors. I have so many more examples of situations like this where we all grew as a team and individuals knowing we had to work hard for our achievements. On many occasions I've sat back and reflected on my time at Manhattan and wouldn't change it for the world. It is a special place and I am happy to call myself a Jasper.
Q: It's no coincidence that since the influx of talent from Florida, Manhattan has experienced unprecedented success ... Why have kids from state been so successful in Riverdale?
A: There are multiple factors that attribute to the overall success of players from our state, but the one that stands out is the competitive nature of baseball at the amateur level. The quality that is being played at the high school level on down, including travel ball, is some of, if not the best in the country. Year in and year out, the MLB First-Year Player Draft is proof of this as Florida produces quality players at an extremely high rate.
Q: Along those lines Miami native Fabian Pena was recently drafted by the Giants while fellow native Jose Carrera was signed by the Yankees last year ... How does that make you feel when you see Jaspers find success along the the path you forged?
A: I'm extremely happy for those guys … They've had the odds stacked up against them their entire lives and were able to make dreams become realities. They put the work in and created their own opportunities. With that being said, the game comes to an end for us all at some point so I am just glad Fabian and the others before him received a quality education in the classroom and in life that will prepare them for the next step in their lives.
Q: What are your fondest memories of playing for the Jaspers?
A: There are so many memories I could share, but we'd be here all day! You would assume I'd say the run we made in 2006 but for me there was no better feeling than winning at Van Cortlandt Park (VCP) with my teammates. Those four years we dominated at VCP and our home winning percentage during that time was pretty incredible (.790) and was one of the best in the country. Just knowing all of the hard work we put in to preparing for the season as well as the field for the spring was so worthwhile and gave us a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
Q: Are you surprised that your former coaches have achieved success both at Manhattan and elsewhere?
A: NO! Those guys are just like the kids they recruit to play for them. Hard-nosed individuals that are willing to put in the work to win. From Trimper to Leighton and now Cole, those guys know nothing but hard work. Everything they've achieved up to this point was not by chance.
Q: You were a part of the illustrious 2006 Manhattan team that beat Nebraska & San Francisco, what was that experience like?
A: That was an experience I will never forget. Leading up to the spring of 2006, we established a goal of not only making the conference tournament, but winning it all. The way that our team came together that year was something special. We were led by a phenomenal coaching staff (Kevin Leighton, Mike Cole and Ryan Darcy) and had determined upperclassmen that continuously pushed us in practices and workouts. Our team was filled with leaders and we really were not afraid of anyone, but most importantly we competed and showed up every day! Realizing that goal of winning the MAAC with my teammates and coaches was remarkable, but we were not done. It feels like only yesterday that we were all together sitting and waiting for the NCAA Regional destination. One thing was for certain, no matter where we were headed, we were going there to win. We were ultimately paired up with Nebraska, San Francisco and Miami in Lincoln, NE. In the opener, we were massive underdogs against the regional host Nebraska and their future Yankee Joba Chamberlain. That day we silenced a sea of screaming Cornhusker fans within the first 30 minutes of the game. The season didn't end the way we anticipated, losing to Miami in the regional championship but the ride was one of a lifetime.
Q: What do you miss the most about playing at Manhattan?
A: The camaraderie between my teammates and coaches as those relationships I made at Manhattan will be with me forever. As life goes on, sometimes you tend to lose communication with people, but I know that at a drop of a hat if I ever needed anything all my former teammates or coaches they would be there for me.
Q: Do you you still follow the program?
A: I do. If I'm not talking to former teammates or coaches about the program. I visit the website and keep up with the news. During the season I'm constantly looking at box scores and the MAAC standings.
Q: If you have one bit of advice to the current Jaspers, what would it be?
A: Your time at Manhattan is going to fly, sit back and slow things down. Savor those early-morning workouts in the cold and those long bus rides. Listen to your coaches and work hard. Don't take this opportunity for granted.
Q: One final question, what is it like to play for head coach Mike Cole and what should future Jaspers expect when they play for him?
A: My time with coach Cole was great. He is very passionate about the game, the players feed off of that and he truly cares about the development of his players on-and-off the field. He expects his players to give it there all and compete every day. Those future Jaspers who commit to playing for coach Cole should expect to win. He understands what makes Manhattan a special place and knows what it takes to compete for MAAC championships on a yearly basis.
