Jimmy Nelson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #1 prospect in 2014
  Nelson first emerged as a prospect at Niceville High in the Florida Panhandle, spurning the Reds as a 39th-round pick to attend Alabama. He has helped make up for the fact that the Brewers failed to sign 2010 first-rounder Dylan Covey, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and did not sign. A second-rounder that same year, Nelson signed for $570,600 and finished his third full season in the majors. Long considered a workhorse type who profiled as a mid-rotation starter, Nelson made a big leap in 2013, starting at Double-A Huntsville, then moving up to Triple-A Nashville at midseason and finally to Milwaukee as a September callup. His command was a bit more erratic at Nashville, but he remained tough to hit and moved to the front of the class of a developing group of pitchers who should make an impact in the big leagues soon. He ingratiated himself to the big league staff with his aggressive nature and mound presence, showing no signs of being intimidated or being in over his head. In the one start he was given, he had trouble gripping the ball and threw some very wild pitches. Nelson said the ball in the majors was slicker than in the minors and it was an adjustment he would have to make. Nelson can overpower hitters at times with a fastball that sits at 92-94 mph but also reaches 96 when he needs it. He is very aggressive, going after hitters with hard stuff that also includes an effective two-seamer in the low 90s with good sink and movement that he uses to induce groundouts. Nelson also can be very tough on righthanded hitters with his three-quarters arm slot and power slider, which has a sharp break and registers in the 84-86 mph range. He limited righties to a .213/.295/.290 batting line and three home runs over 370 plate appearances at three levels, including 0-for-15 in his brief big league trial. He continues to work on a changeup that is improving and will be key to remaining a starter going forward. Nelson has a great build for a pitcher, maintaining the quality of his stuff deep into games. When he is throwing strikes he mows through lineups, but on other days Nelson fights his delivery and walks hitters, creating doubt about his future role. He tends to overthrow and loses his release point, resulting in an average of 4.1 walks per nine innings for his minor league career, too many for a frontline starter. He also needs to polish his defense and ability to hold runners. Nelson likely will have to return to Nashville to open the 2014 season but could force his way into the big league picture with a strong spring. While some scouts think his iffy command will consign him to the bullpen, the Brewers see a potential No. 2 or 3 starter who misses barrels and eats innings. He appears destined for regular spot in the Milwaukee rotation before the year is done.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #5 prospect in 2013
  While 2011 first-rounders Taylor Jungmann and Jed Bradley had inconsistent seasons at Brevard County, Nelson dominated and earned a promotion by mid-June. His control was much more erratic in Double-A, probably the result of shoulder fatigue that prompted the Brewers to skip some of his starts. He recovered in time to get more innings in the Arizona Fall League, though the strike zone remained elusive there. An imposing figure on the mound, Nelson often overpowers hitters with a 92-94 mph fastball that he can run up to 96. He also throws an effective two-seamer in the low 90s that has good sink and induces weak groundouts. He has become more consistent with his sharp 84-86 mph slider, which he uses to shut down righthanders, and more confident with his fringy changeup. He also did a better job repeating his herky-jerky delivery last year until the shoulder fatigue set in. Nelson is a bulldog on the mound with a confident demeanor. The key to his development will be improving his control and command. Nelson likely will return to Huntsville in 2013, at least for the start of the season. He projects as a No. 3 starter and could find himself in Milwaukee's rotation before 2014 is done.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #10 prospect in 2012
  When first-rounder Dylan Covey was diagnosed with diabetes and opted to attend college, Nelson became Milwaukee's top signee in the 2010 draft as a second-rounder. Used exclusively as a reliever in his pro debut after a heavy workload as an Alabama junior, he had an up-and-down season as a starter in 2011. He did show improvement in the second half, going 6-2, 3.71 in his final 13 starts, and made significant strides in instructional league. Nelson can be an intimidating presence on the mound, with his size and a fastball that he can run up to 97 mph. He has better command when he relies on his two-seamer, a low-90s offering with heavy sink. His 84-86 mph slider that is a plus pitch when he throws it for strikes but he often struggles to keep it in the zone. Nelson's changeup remains a work in progress and a key to his continued development. He has trouble repeating his delivery at times, which negatively affects his control. He has the body and mentality to be a workhorse. The Brewers were excited with Nelson's performance in instructional league and believe he can become a middle-of-the-rotation starter. If not, he profiles well as a late-inning reliever provided he throws more strikes. He could force his way to Double-A at some point in 2012.
• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #10 prospect in 2011
  The Brewers have focused on drafting big-bodied, hard-throwing pitchers in recent years, and Nelson fits the bill. A second-round pick, he became their top signee from the 2010 draft when first-rounder Dylan Covey was diagnosed with diabetes and opted to attend college. After landing him for $570,600, Milwaukee used Nelson strictly as a reliever because he had pitched 110 innings at Alabama in the spring, his first extended stint as a starter. Nelson can hit 96 mph with his fastball, but he has learned that he's more effective when he throws a two-seamer in the low 90s with heavy sink. He complements his fastball with a hard 84-86 mph slider that will give him a second plus pitch if he gains more consistency. He occasionally mixes in a slow curveball to keep hitters guessing. His changeup is below-average and needs work. Nelson loses his release point at times and becomes inconsistent with his control. He sometimes lands hard on a stiff front leg and must clean up his mechanics. If he does, he has the body to be a workhorse. While some teams projected Nelson as a closer, the Brewers believe he can be a middle-of-the-rotation starter. They'll turn him loose in low Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #8 prospect in 2014
  Nelson lived up to his billing as the Brewers' top prospect--and then some--ranking among the most effective pitchers in the minors and earning PCL pitcher of the year honors. The jumbo-sized righty used power stuff and a power approach to produce a minors-best 0.92 WHIP. Nelson runs his four-seamer up to 95 mph, but it's the two-seamer with sink at 90-91 that makes him a groundball pitcher and helps him keep the ball in the park. Two of the three PCL homers he allowed came in a start at hitter-friendly Salt Lake. "He was the best pitcher I saw in terms of now ability," one scout said. "He's a power guy. He could be a No. 2 starter, and he was mean--he just attacked." Nelson struck out a career-high rate of 26.5 percent of batters faced in 2014, which can be attributed to a slider that flashes plus with true lateral tilt when right. He also worked on a changeup in an effort to neutralize lefthanders, and one scout who saw him early said it is a potential plus pitch.
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  Ranked Southern League #18 prospect in 2013
  For half the season at least, Nelson served as a bright spot on a Huntsville pitching staff that ranked last in the league in WHIP (1.39), K-BB ratio (1.63) and home runs allowed (117). He continued on his way to Triple-A Nashville in June and to the Milwaukee bullpen in September. Nelson has uncommon fastball velocity and movement, sinking the ball in the low 90s and letting it ride with natural cutting action up to 96 mph. His mid-80s slider shows above-average, late-breaking action at times, though it flattens out when his arm angle drops and he gets around the ball. Nelson?s fringe changeup has come a long way since he signed, but without improved command of his primary pitches he?ll probably find himself in the bullpen, where the changeup won?t be a factor. Neither the Brewers nor scouts for other organizations are ready to give up on Nelson as a potential mid-rotation starter yet, not with his durable 6-foot-5 frame and track record for improvement once he adjusts to a new level of competition.
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  Ranked Florida State League #16 prospect in 2012
  Jungmann and Bradley were the big names in Brevard County's rotation, but the 2011 first-round picks didn't come close to matching the performance or stuff of Nelson, a 2010 second-rounder. He continued to pitch well after his promotion to Double-A in mid-June, though his walk rate spiked. Nelson throws harder than the first-rounders, sitting at 92-94 and touching 96 mph. He also has plenty of sink and boring action on his two-seam fastball. His slider is a quality second pitch, and he shows some confidence in his changeup as well. Nelson works aggressively and confidently, trusting his stuff to get ahead of hitters. The main concern with him is his herky-jerky delivery. It generates some deception, but it features effort and could hamper his command and his durability.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #14 prospect in 2010
  Drafted 64th overall in June, Nelson became the Brewers' top signee when first-rounder Dylan Covey was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and opted to attend San Diego. Nelson logged 110 innings while working exclusively as a starter for the first time this spring as an Alabama junior, so Milwaukee eased him into pro ball as a reliever. After years of rearing back and firing fastballs at 95 mph yielded mixed results, Nelson has learned the virtues of throttling back to 90-92 and locating the ball with sink. His fastball plays up to plus because of heavy, boring action in on righthanders. He falls in love with his mid-80s slider and uses it to good effect, striking out 11.1 batters per nine innings for Helena. Nelson doesn't show much of a changeup. He also has an awkward delivery, in which he has some effort and lands on a stiff front leg, and he'll have to smooth out those rough edges if he doesn't want to end up in the bullpen.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #96 prospect in 2014

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: While 2011 first-rounders Taylor Jungmann and Jed Bradley had inconsistent seasons at Brevard County, Nelson dominated and earned a promotion by mid-June. His control was much more erratic in Double-A, probably the result of shoulder fatigue that prompted the Brewers to skip some of his starts. He recovered in time to get more innings in the Arizona Fall League, though the strike zone remained elusive there. Scouting Report: An imposing figure on the mound, Nelson often overpowers hitters with a 92-94 mph fastball that he can run up to 96. He also throws an effective two-seamer in the low 90s that has good sink and induces weak groundouts. He has become more consistent with his sharp 84-86 mph slider, which he uses to shut down righthanders, and more confident with his fringy changeup. He also did a better job repeating his herky-jerky delivery last year until the shoulder fatigue set in. Nelson is a bulldog on the mound with a confident demeanor. The key to his development will be improving his control and command. The Future: Nelson likely will return to Huntsville in 2013, at least for the start of the season. He projects as a No. 3 starter and could find himself in Milwaukee's rotation before 2014 is done.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: When first-rounder Dylan Covey was diagnosed with diabetes and opted to attend college, Nelson became Milwaukee's top signee in the 2010 draft as a second-rounder. Used exclusively as a reliever in his pro debut after a heavy workload as an Alabama junior, he had an up-and-down season as a starter in 2011. He did show improvement in the second half, going 6-2, 3.71 in his final 13 starts, and made significant strides in instructional league. Scouting Report: Nelson can be an intimidating presence on the mound, with his size and a fastball that he can run up to 97 mph. He has better command when he relies on his two-seamer, a low-90s offering with heavy sink. His 84-86 mph slider is a plus pitch when he throws it for strikes but he often struggles to keep it in the zone. Nelson's changeup remains a work in progress and a key to his continued development. He has trouble repeating his delivery at times, which negatively affects his control. He has the body and mentality to be a workhorse. The Future: The Brewers were excited with Nelson's performance in instructional league and believe he can become a middle-of-the-rotation starter. If not, he profiles well as a late-inning reliever provided he throws more strikes. He could force his way to Double-A at some point in 2012.