Abel joins the Bluefish for his first season in the Atlantic League and tenth of professional baseball after being acquired in a trade with Wichita of the American Association for a player to be named later, a dozen Tucci Lumber Bats, and five pounds of Catfish.

Last year, the 29-year-old split time between Grand Prairie and Wichita, both of the independent American Association. While with Grand Prairie, he played for new Bluefish Field Manager Ricky VanAsselberg. In 95 combine games, he collected a .354 batting average with 26 extra-base hits, 45 RBI and 52 runs scored.

Nieves was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 50th round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft. He made his professional debut in 2005 and spent six years in the Angels organization before signing with Joliet of the independent Frontier League in 2012. In 283 career games in the independent ranks, the Venezuela-native owns a .344 batting average with 140 RBI, 167 runs scored and a .430 on-base percentage.

Before beginning his professional career, Abel attended and played ball at Middle Georgia College.