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Nebraska native Jake Diekman returns to pitch 2025 season with Lincoln Saltdogs

Former Southern Raider and Doane Tiger Jake Diekman will bring his 13 seasons of MLB experience to the Lincoln Saltdogs pitching staff this summer.

Tuesday, April 22nd 2025, 7:45 PM CDT

Updated:

Tuesday, April 22nd 2025, 7:49 PM CDT

By Timothy Hackett

Graphic courtesy of Lincoln Saltdogs

LINCOLN - A familiar face for baseball fans from Southeast Nebraska is returning to continue his professional baseball career in his home state.

Wymore native Jake Diekman has signed to pitch the 2025 season with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association, the club announced Tuesday.

A graduate of Southern High School, Diekman began his college career at Doane before he was drafted in the 30th Round of the 2007 Draft by the Phillies out of Cloud County Community College. He would go on to appear in more than 700 games over 13 seasons in bullpens for nine different teams across Major League Baseball.

He broke in with the Phillies in 2012 and appeared in 43 games with the Mets just last summer. He received an invite to Spring Training with the Braves before being released in March - now, he returns to Nebraska to play for the pro team based in the capital city of his home state. The Saltdogs' 2025 campaign begins on May 9 against the Kansas City Monarchs.

The following is the Saltdogs' complete press release from Tuesday, reprinted in full with typographical adjustments.

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Jake Diekman Signs with Lincoln

The Lincoln Saltdogs have announced the signing of former Major League Baseball pitcher Jake Diekman.

A 13-year veteran of Major League Baseball, Jake Diekman joins the Lincoln Saltdogs pitching staff in 2025. A Southeastern Nebraska native, Diekman played collegiately at Doane in Crete, Nebraska, before moving on to Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas. Drafted in the 30th Round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft by Philadelphia, Diekman debuted with the Phillies in 2012. A middle-relief and set-up pitcher, Diekman spent time with nine big league clubs. With 705 game appearances, the southpaw has recorded 764 strikeouts in MLB. Five times Diekman has tasted the experience of playoff baseball. In 2015 and 2016, Diekman pitched in the postseason with the Texas Rangers, and did so as well with the Oakland A’s in 2019 and 2020, plus the 2023 season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

“We are extremely excited and fortunate to have Jake Diekman join our staff”, Saltdogs Field Manager Brett Jodie said. “It is an understatement to say he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our team. We look forward to him competing on the mound for us as long as he wants to and helping out our pitchers as well.”

Diekman spent the 2024 season with the New York Mets, where he struck out 40 batters over 32 innings in 43 appearances, while collecting four saves.

Lincoln fans may purchase single game tickets for the 2025 home opener and all home games on the Saltdogs 2025 schedule. Single game tickets may be purchased one of three ways: in person at the Haymarket Park Box Office (403 Line Drive Circle), by telephone at 402-474-BALL (2255), or on-line at www.saltdogs.com/schedule.

Lincoln begins the 2025 American Association season Friday, May 9^th, when they travel to Kansas City, Kansas to begin a three-game series with the Kansas City Monarchs. The Saltdogs home-opener is Friday, May 16^th at 7:05 p.m., versus the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

All home and away Saltdogs games will be broadcast on radio on KFOR 101.5 FM/1240 AM, in Lincoln. For promotional information and to visit the online store, go to: www.saltdogs.com.