Northwest’s Pablo set to join St. Joe Mustangs
DAILY FORUM FILE PHOTO
Former Northwest Missouri State University closer Nikko Pablo pitches during the Bearcats’ 5-2 victory over Central Oklahoma last season. Pablo, who entered the game in the seventh inning, picked up his seventh save of the season.
ST JOSEPH — Former Northwest Missouri State University pitcher Nikko Pablo won’t have to return home to native California just yet.
Pablo, who finished his senior season with the Bearcats with the second-most saves in a single season with 11, will be playing for the St. Joseph Mustangs this season.
He is excited to be joining his new squad, where he will serve as a middle reliever and setup man.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “At first, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do after my senior year, so getting an opportunity to play for the Mustangs … I’m grateful to have another two months to just have fun and enjoy the game I love.”
Pablo said he doesn’t plan on making any major mechanic changes to his game once the season with the Mustangs starts.
He said it’s all about having the right attitude on the mound.
“There’s really nothing to change about me,” he said. “I just need to make sure to keep my confidence. That’s the main key. Always have confidence with what you are doing. I’ll have a similar role with coming out of the bullpen. I want to come out and throw strikes and throw as hard as I can.”
If his roles stay the same throughout the year, he will have filled all four pitching roles between his time at Northwest, where he was originally a starter before moving to the closer role, and the Mustangs where he will serve as a middle reliever and setup guy.
Pablo said his tenure at Northwest helped him get ready.
“I’m fortunate to experience every single one of those positions,” he said. “I’m grateful for having the opportunity at Northwest to start, be a relief pitcher, and be a closer as well.”
While the Mustang staff was aware of Pablo’s stats, he still had to go to them at first to start the process.
During this past season, he told Northwest assistant coach Mike Creason that he wanted to keep playing baseball after his time with the Bearcats was over.
Creason then suggested he consider joining the St. Joseph club, a member of the Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League.
Pablo then connected with manager Matt Johnson, a former Northwest assistant coach himself, who was ready to offer Pablo a spot on the team.
Pablo said he is still getting to know all his new teammates.
“We have a lot of new faces, but just like any other team I’ve joined, they’ve opened me with open arms, and I’m eager to play with them,” he said.
Pitching coach Jeremy Franke will be another new face in the clubhouse. He graduated from Benton High School in 1993 and eventually moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He has worked for teams in the American Association of Independent Baseball, NCAA (Division II), the NAIA, the Prospect League, and the MINK League.
Franke has been impressed with the little he’s seen out of Pablo.
“He’s going to bring a lot of experience,” he said. “Coming out of the bullpen is a big thing. He’s going to throw strikes and get us through a couple of the middle innings. We’re going to look to him to get us through the fourth, fifth, and maybe sixth to get to our closer.”
Pablo finished his senior season with a 3.46 ERA and a 5-3 record. His 11 saves came with 43 strikeouts and just 12 walks. He recorded the third no-hitter in program history on April 26, 2016.
The Mustangs opened their season Wednesday and will play against the Kansas City Monarchs from the Ban Johnson League at home tonight. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
