C. J. Nitkowski
Encyclopedia
Christopher John "C. J." Nitkowski (born March 9, 1973 in Suffern, New York
) is a left-handed
professional baseball pitcher currently in the Korea Baseball Organization
and formerly of Major League Baseball
.
in Ramsey, New Jersey
, graduating in 1991. Not drafted out of high school, he attended Florida Atlantic University
for one year before transferring to St. John's University. The Cincinnati Reds
made him the ninth overall pick in the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
.
, New York Mets
, Houston Astros
, Atlanta Braves
, Texas Rangers
, Washington Nationals
and the New York Yankees
. However, after the 2006 season where he played exclusively in Triple-A with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, Nitkowski accepted a one-year contract tender with Nippon Professional Baseball's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
. Here he found himself coached by the legendary Japanese home run hitter, Sadaharu Oh. He played two seasons for the Hawks, but did not return to the team in 2009. Nitkowski began the season with the SK Wyverns
in South Korea
, but was granted his release by the team on June 20. On June 28, 2009, the Doosan Bears
in South Korea claimed him off waivers. He was released at the end of the season due to concerns over a shoulder injury he suffered in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs.
In July , Nitkowski signed with the NEXEN Heroes based in Seoul
, South Korea.
, whom he worked out with sporadically in the off-seasons from 2001–2006, and also was trained by Brian McNamee
, Clemens' principal prosecutor. Nitkowski, in a statement to the Associated Press
(an organization he occasionally contributes to) said, "I have never seen Roger or Andy take any illegal performance-enhancing drugs. I have never talked to either of them about PEDs, nor do I have any firsthand knowledge of them taking any PEDs."
Nitkowski was one of the first major leaguers to maintain his own Web site, where he posted ongoing personal diaries about life in the big leagues. In many ways, his contributions anticipated the phenomenon of blogging, several years before that term became known to the general public.
Raised a Catholic, Nitkowski converted to evangelical Christianity following an incident in which his son nearly drowned in a swimming pool during spring training of 2002.
He is the self-described "Bobby Fisher of Connect Four."
Suffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
) is a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
professional baseball pitcher currently in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
and formerly of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Amateur career
Nitkowski attended Don Bosco Preparatory High SchoolDon Bosco Preparatory High School
Don Bosco Preparatory High School is a private, Roman Catholic secondary school for young men, grades 9 through 12. Founded by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious order of priests and brothers, the school is situated on a campus in Ramsey, New Jersey, United States...
in Ramsey, New Jersey
Ramsey, New Jersey
Ramsey is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located northwest of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 14,473....
, graduating in 1991. Not drafted out of high school, he attended Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
for one year before transferring to St. John's University. The Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
made him the ninth overall pick in the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
1994 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*A.J. Pierzynski , Minnesota Twins, 3rd round*Bobby Howry , San Francisco Giants, 5th round...
.
Professional career
He made his Major League Baseball debut on June 3, , with the Reds, and spent his earlier years as a starter before being converted to the bullpen. He has played for several other Major League teams including the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
and the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. However, after the 2006 season where he played exclusively in Triple-A with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Nitkowski accepted a one-year contract tender with Nippon Professional Baseball's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
. Here he found himself coached by the legendary Japanese home run hitter, Sadaharu Oh. He played two seasons for the Hawks, but did not return to the team in 2009. Nitkowski began the season with the SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns
SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, but was granted his release by the team on June 20. On June 28, 2009, the Doosan Bears
Doosan Bears
The Doosan Bears are a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. They are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization....
in South Korea claimed him off waivers. He was released at the end of the season due to concerns over a shoulder injury he suffered in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs.
In July , Nitkowski signed with the NEXEN Heroes based in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea.
Personal
On January 30, , it was revealed that Nitkowski was interviewed by the FBI as part of the Bureau's investigation into the perjury case against Roger ClemensRoger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, whom he worked out with sporadically in the off-seasons from 2001–2006, and also was trained by Brian McNamee
Brian McNamee
Brian Gerard McNamee is a former New York City police officer, personal trainer, and strength and conditioning coach in Major League Baseball who is most notable for testifying against former New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens at a 2008 United States Congressional hearing that concerned the...
, Clemens' principal prosecutor. Nitkowski, in a statement to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(an organization he occasionally contributes to) said, "I have never seen Roger or Andy take any illegal performance-enhancing drugs. I have never talked to either of them about PEDs, nor do I have any firsthand knowledge of them taking any PEDs."
Nitkowski was one of the first major leaguers to maintain his own Web site, where he posted ongoing personal diaries about life in the big leagues. In many ways, his contributions anticipated the phenomenon of blogging, several years before that term became known to the general public.
Raised a Catholic, Nitkowski converted to evangelical Christianity following an incident in which his son nearly drowned in a swimming pool during spring training of 2002.
He is the self-described "Bobby Fisher of Connect Four."
External links
- CJBaseball.com (CJ's own blog)
- Spotstarters.com (Interview with C.J. Nitkowski, 2007)