Nieves finally in Majors for Opening Day
And it doesn't matter that he might be the most unrecognizable player on the field when the visiting team is introduced Monday night at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland prior to the regular-season opener for the Yankees and Athletics.
Before public address announcer Roy Steele announces a New York starting lineup that includes Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui, Jason Giambi and a few other household names, Nieves will get his moment to savor when he's introduced with the Yankees' reserves.
"This is like a dream come true," Nieves said, flashing a big smile. "This is my first Opening Day [in the Majors], and for it to be with the Yankees ... it couldn't be any better."
The Yankees will begin the regular season with 11 pitchers and three catchers. That is one fewer pitcher and one more catcher than most American League teams. Nieves backs up starter Jorge Posada and reserve Kelly Stinnett.
"I know my role, and it's to be there when they need me," Nieves said.
Nieves is out of Minor League options and therefore would have to clear waivers before being sent down. But there is more to him making the team than the waiver situation.
"What it helps you do is pinch-run for either Jorge or Stinnett late in the game," manager Joe Torre said.
Nieves has played in 31 big-league games, four of them last season after being promoted from Triple-A Columbus. He went 0-for-4 in 2005, and he has a .171 (13-for-76) career Major League average, compiled with the Padres (2002) and Yankees. Nieves had a brief stint with the Angels in 2004, but he didn't appear in a game.
The catcher went 7-for-17 this spring, hit one home run, drove in two runs and scored six times. He watched the final two exhibition games against the Diamondbacks, including Saturday's 3-3 tie that ended at the end of nine innings.
Nieves was told last Tuesday night following the Yankees' game against the Phillies that he would be on the 25-man Opening Day roster.
He broke the news to his wife, Yormarie, outside the Legends Field clubhouse in Tampa.
"She almost started crying," he said. "She has been with me in the Minor Leagues for the past two years and knows how much I want to be in the big leagues. Then we called both of our families [in Puerto Rico]."
With Opening Day only a few hours away, Nieves said the reality probably won't hit until early Monday morning.
"Right now, I'm OK," he said. "I'm pretty calm and feel normal, like it's just another day of work. But on Monday, that's when everything will start happening and it will be a lot different. I can't wait, and I thank God for everything that has happened in my career. A lot of prayers from a lot of people have been answered."
Roster moves: The Opening Day roster was set after Saturday's game, pending word from pitcher Scott Proctor on the family illness that has kept him at his Florida home the past few days.
Pitchers Aaron Small and Octavio Dotel were placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 24, and Carl Pavano went on the DL, retroactive to March 28.
Also, the team released infielder Luis A. Garcia and cut pitchers Matt Smith, Matt Childers, Jose Veras and Ramiro Mendoza, catcher Omir Santos, and infielders Russ Johnson, Damian Rolls and Felix Escalona.
The deadline for setting the 25-man roster is midnight ET on Saturday, and general manager Brian Cashman said the organization was waiting to hear from Proctor or his agent before deciding whether to possibly put Proctor on the bereavement list and replace him with another pitcher.
Jim Street is a national reporter for MLB.com.