Lance Niekro

Lance Joseph Niekro

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 210 lb.
• School Florida Southern College
• High School George W. Jenkins High School
• Debut September 5, 2003
• Final Game May 2, 2007
• Born January 29, 1979 in Winter Haven, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Son of Joe Niekro, brother of J.J. Niekro and nephew of Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, Lance Niekro played four seasons in the major leagues with the San Francisco Giants and also played eight minor league seasons with a .310 average in the minors. In his best major league season, 2005, he hit 12 home runs in 278 at-bats for the Giants.

Niekro was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round of the 2000 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Alan Marr and made his pro debut that summer.

In 2009, he tried to make a comeback as a knuckleball pitcher. Here is a photo: I Got to See a Niekro Knuckleball Today.

In July 2010 it was announced that he would join the coaching staff of Florida Southern College. Lance had played for Florida Southern in 1999 and 2000. Father Joe was an assistant coach there in 2000. After two seasons he was named head coach for 2013. As of 2019, he was still head coach at Florida Southern, and his web page [1] says he has coached ten players drafted into major league baseball as well as some signed as free agents. JT Hintzen was one of his players. He was let go following the 2024 season.