Nied attended Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He was drafted out of high school by the Atlanta Braves in the 14th round of the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.^{[citation needed]} Baseball America rated Nied as the 56th best prospect in baseball prior to the 1992 season and the 23rd best prospect in baseball prior to the 1993 season.^[1]

Despite excelling in 1992 spring training, Nied was optioned to the Triple-A Richmond Braves to start the 1992 season.^[2] He made his major league debut for the Braves on September 1, 1992, after MLB rosters expanded.

Nied was the first pick for the expansion Colorado Rockies in the 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft. Nied started in the first ever game for the Rockies, taking the loss against the New York Mets. He also pitched a number of other firsts for the Rockies, including first strikeout, first walk, first complete game, and first complete game shutout.

Nied compiled a 5–9 won-loss record in 1993 then went 9–7 in 1994 but won no more games through the next two years, playing sparingly.

In 1996 Nied was granted free agency and joined the Cincinnati Reds organization on November 14, 1996, but never appeared in a game in the majors or minors again and departed the game.