In something of a surprise move, the Brewers announced today that they have reinstated Jimmy Nelson from the injured list and optioned him to Triple-A. He is finally back to health after a long layoff but won’t come straight up to the majors.
It seems that Nelson wasn’t deemed quite ready for the MLB rotation. It could be that the team also prefers to option him to maintain roster flexibility, though it’s tough to imagine they’d hold him down if he looked to be in top form. Nelson allowed ten earned in 19 rehab frames at Triple-A, posting a 22:9 K/BB ratio.
There had been some suggestion that Nelson could be brought back in a relief capacity if the club decided not to plug him in as a starter. Instead, he’ll keep working at the club’s top affiliate — presumably as a starter, though that’s not yet clear.
It’s surely a tough pill to swallow for the soon-to-be-30-year-old pitcher, who was closing in on a return to the big leagues after missing all of 2018 following labrum surgery. Before his injury, he had turned in a breakout 2017 effort, with 175 1/3 innings of 3.49 ERA ball on the back of 10.2 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
Nelson entered the present season with 4.107 years of MLB service and has accrued 57 days this year while working back. That leaves him shy of topping five full years of service, which occurs at 172 days, though he’ll pass that bar rather quickly if and when he is called up.
That’s not to suggest that the Brewers are acting with service-time motivations. The club spent $3.7MM last year and this year to retain the rights to Nelson and would surely prefer to see that investment turn into MLB results.
Ayy! ¿Qué pasó?
Probably their best move. Why rock the boat? It’s not like there is an obvious guy to remove from the rotation. Nelson’s had two mediocre years and one very good one. It’s not like he’s a guaranteed ace coming back by any means.
they already have one of the best rotations in baseball, he’s not needed right now
Corbin Burnes disliked your comment.
Dilusion is a wonderful thing. Brewers have had only 11 quality starts in 2019. League leaders have had 24-27 quality starts. But you keep telling yourself that its one of the best starting rotations in baseball.
Dray is being sarcastic. He hates everything Milwaukee. I think it derives from a bad batch of Ma Baensch herring.
This is also by design. The brewers adhere very closely to third time through the order penalty. They also don’t really have a number 1, although Woodruff looks really good, and so their SP innings will be capped. That being said, their rotation is not good. Their bullpen is. It’s a paradigm that has worked well for teams, and works very well in the central. I would expect a mid level addition here and there, and maybe some tweaks to pitchers’ arsenals, but this will remain a weak staff.
J. Chacin, ERA 4.65, WHIP 1.31. Opposing teams are more afraid of Milwaukee’s racing sausages. Within two weeks, it will be time for Brewers’ rotation to get a full nelson.
Pay attention.
This benefits Nelson and the Brewers. It’s the only place he could continue to work his way back as a starter and gives him a chance to improve his performance in AAA and earn his way back to the Brewers rotation.
And he’s just down the road in San Antonio! Time to go see what a real major league player looks like!
Agreed with this move….no need to rush him back.
Most teams refuse to rush back guys with labrals repairs…as in ever.
Did you get rushed back to action when you tore your labia?
Davies, Woodruff, and Gio are all locks in the rotation. Chacin has been great lately and so has Chase Anderson since his return. I would have been ok with a 6 man rotation, but let’s see where chacin and especially Anderson pitch before making a decision on him
Chase Anderson has not been great but has shown flashes. So has Freddy Peralta…and even Adrian Houser. The Brewers have displayed the ability to innovate..CC & Sterns don’t mind using two starters to cover one game in the 5th starter slot. A little more evaluation of what Jimmy Nelson can be expected to contribute probably benefits all concerned, especially Jimmy who’s got to be pretty disappointed right now. But the Brewers are in a win now mode. Lots of guys who expected to be on the staff aren’t. It’s contribute or work things out at triple A.
Well hopefully this is just temporary until they get a trade of an excess player traded instead of dfa someone. Here is a question will this be a more emotional return for Nelson or Cappy’s return. Still have to say Cappys return was the that Brewers fans were emotional about. So has anyone heard any update on Lawrie, Kirby or Gatewood are doing?