Nieve was signed by the Houston Astros as an amateur free agent in 1999. After two seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League he came to the U.S. to play for the rookie league Martinsville Astros. He was a Texas League all-star in 2005 with the Corpus Christi Hooks, when he was 4–2 with a 2.65 ERA in 14 starts. He made his major league debut with the Houston Astros on April 4, 2006 against the Florida Marlins. He made his first start on April 16 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and picked up his first win on May 2 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He was 3–3 in 40 appearances, 11 starts with the Astros in 2006, with a 4.20 ERA. He missed the 2007 season with after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned to appear in 11 games in 2008, all in relief and as 0–1 with an 8.44 ERA.
In March 2009, Nieve was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets and was called to the major league team in June when reliever J. J. Putz was placed on the disabled list.
In, 2010, due to his early workload, Mets' TV announcers began referring to him as "Nightly" Nieve.
He was designated for assignment on July 23, 2010.[1]
After he was let go by the Mets, he rejoined the organization and pitched in the Buffalo Bisons rotation.
On December 1, 2010, Nieve signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, which included an invite to spring training.[2] He was released by the Pirates on March 22, 2011.
He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2011. He was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. He made 25 starts for the Isotopes and was 7-9 with a 5.96 ERA.
Nieve was a non-roster invitee to the Indians' spring training camp in 2013. His contract was purchased by the Indians on April 21, 2013. He was designated for assignment the next day without making an appearance.
Nieve was traded to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations on August 3, 2013.[4] He was assigned to the AAA Sacramento River Cats. He became a free agent on October 1.[5] He re-signed on November 18, 2013.
Nieve retired and became the pitching coach of the GCL Pirates for the 2019 season. He was named pitching coach of the Greensboro Grasshoppers for the 2023 season.
