Steve Webb
The big winner this month in Camelback Ranch? No, question. Jimmy Nelson. No player has made as big a move up the Dodgers depth chart this spring as this former Brewers starter. And if indeed he does make the opening day roster, it will be the completion of a rather remarkable comeback. Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s look back at how we ended up here in the first place.
Milwaukee Career Cut Short By Injury
A former second-round draft pick by Milwaukee in 2010, this big hoss out of Alabama was a solid middle of the rotation guy for the Brew Crew in the middle of the last decade. His best year was 2017, when he went 12-6 with a 3.49 ERA over 29 starts. But then late in that same season, a bizarre injury put him on the shelf. Sadly, this being the National League and all, it happened on the base paths. After a solid shot against the ivy in Wrigley in September, Nelson rounded first hard with thoughts of a double. He had second thoughts and made a hasty retreat to first and managed to jam his pitching arm against the base hard. Even though he gritted his way through another inning of pitching (youch!), he was done. Torn labrum and a strained rotator cuff.
More Problems Lead to Free Agency
Nelson ended up missing the entire 2018 season. He tried to come back in 2019, but again his season was truncated by injury, this time the elbow. He got into a handful of games in June and a few in September, but was not even close to his old self. At the end of the season, Nelson became a free again and was signed by the Dodgers. After not getting into any action in 2020 (more injuries, natch), Nelson found his option declined at the end of the year. But he was given a non-roster invite for Spring Training. It was a low-risk, high-reward deal for the Dodgers. Why not?
2021 Down at the Ranch
Cut to Spring Training, 2021. He fought some slight injuries early on, but once he got on the mound in Camelback Ranch, he’s taken full advantage. Although he only got in four Cactus League games this year, he was fantastic in all of them. 0.00 ERA, 9 Ks in seven innings, and a nifty WHIP of 0.71. And even better, two of the outings were multiple innings, which will be important early in the year as starters get ramped up on pitch counts.
Plus, with injuries to both Brusdar Graterol and Joe Kelly, there is a definite pathway for Nelson to make the opening day roster. The problem for him is, there are so many great pitchers on this Dodgers staff, he may not be able to stay up there for long. But, if he can prove himself early when the Dodgers are down a few guys, he will be a great asset for Dave Roberts to have in his back pocket going forward.
Good on ya, Jimmy. Here’s to, as my mom used to say, stick-to-itivity.
