TODAY: Nelson has been officially recalled, as per the Brewers’ official Twitter feed. Righty Taylor Williams was optioned to Triple-A to create roster space.
SUNDAY: Jimmy Nelson will make his long-awaited return to the majors on Wednesday, as Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy) that Nelson will be promoted from Triple-A to start the Brewers’ game against the Marlins.
Wednesday happens to be Nelson’s 30th birthday, making it double the cause for celebration as the right-hander will appear in a Major League game for the first time since September 8, 2017. At the time, Nelson was in the midst of a breakout season that saw him post a 3.49 ERA, 10.2 K/9, and 4.15 K/BB rate over 175 1/3 innings, numbers that earned him a ninth-place finish in NL Cy Young Award voting.
Labrum surgery put Nelson on the shelf, however, and the recovery process lingered long enough that hopes of a midseason return (or even a late-season return to boost the Brewers’ pennant run) in 2018 were dashed. Through the long rehab, a couple of setbacks due to soreness, extended Spring Training outings, and five recent appearances for Triple-A San Antonio to further regain his game-readiness, Nelson is finally set to take the ball for Milwaukee.
The return could hardly come at a more opportune time for the Brewers, who lost both Gio Gonzalez (arm fatigue) and Jhoulys Chacin (back strain) to the IL within the last two days. Needless to say, the team will surely be careful about managing Nelson’s workload, and return to his 2017 form may be optimistic, but Nelson should be a boost to a Milwaukee rotation that has been looking for consistent results. Brandon Woodruff and Zach Davies have been solid all year, with Gonzalez and Chase Anderson playing increasingly large roles over the course of the season, though the Brew Crew has again been leaning on its deep bullpen to carry the pitching load as the team battles for the NL Central title.
How Nelson holds up in the coming weeks will be a factor in the Brewers’ trade deadline plans, as pitching depth would surely seem to be an obvious need perhaps even if Nelson does perform well. It should be noted that the Brewers have been linked to Dallas Keuchel’s market, though Milwaukee will be one of many teams vying for the free agent starter once Keuchel loses the compensatory draft pick (via the qualifying offer) attached to his services tomorrow. If Keuchel proves to be too pricey, the Brewers could explore lower-cost options in trades.
This is a move that needed to happen. Now with Shaw coming back next week the Brewers need to do something with Thames or Aguilar. Maybe it’s time to release Thames give Nottingham some first at bats with Shaw. Perez should eventually be replace with Dubon.
Oops I messed up just saw Nottingham got sent down lol. Glad Williams got brought up but hopefully Barnes wont be up very long.
Someone will bite on Thames. Al team maybe. He’s got massive power still.
Stubby, I have to ask. Why the fascination with replacing Perez? The guy is hitting a respectable.260 right now and can play above average defense anywhere on the field. Would Dubon give you that? The reality is that unless the Brewers are out of it come August, Perez isn’t going anywhere. He gives the manager too much flexibility to move.
Thames has a higher major league OPS than Nottingham has in AAA so I don’t really see how that would be a strong move either. They may look for a 1B upgrade but it certainly isnt going to be Nottingham.
Yeah your right. I was actually watching the game today and realized he is a very valuable player to the Brewers.
But then again I’m someone who thinks that Wil Myers would be a good replacement to trade for. He is young and he can take and replace both Aguilar and Thames.
66 million over the next 3 years. A gross overpayment based on his current production.
Nelson won’t be the answer to all the Brewers starting pitching issues, he’ll fail as well as most have besides Woodruff….
Do you say that because you don’t think he can recover from injury or you just don’t think he is a good pitcher?
Yeah, Davies has been awful this year so far..
Taylor Williams was doing so well lately too, that’s a shame.
It will take Taylor Williams a couple decades to get that ERA down. that was bad…
Taylor Williams had possibly the worst appearance I have ever seen. He gave up 8 runs in 1/3 of an inning yesterday
When Hernan Perez has a better ERA than you…thats rough lol
I think they have to try Nelson again but I think he’ll be below average to bad. Very few pitchers have ever had a successful return after a labrum year to their throwing shoulder. Similar to Thoracic Outlet
Well Nelson is going to be a success story. In all honesty Anderson, Barnes, Aguilar, Thames,Shaw and Albers should all be replaced on this roster
We’ll see… there are very few with the labrum. Hyun Jin-Ryu I believe had one but I think the previous most successful return was Michael Pineda’s last few seasons…. the outlook is really bad for these
And Ryu wasn’t a hard-thrower, that could be a factor in his success.
Thames and Shaw are still keepers. Rest are turds. Thames has been very good since getting consistent at bats. Surprised the hell out of me too.
Thames is also juicing.
Go, Jimmy! Go!
Picked him up cheap on my fantasy teams.
Feel bad for Taylor Williams. He may have pitched himself off the 40-man roster yesterday. Just cannot put it together at the major league level.
Whoops. You guys just won’t listen. Nelson’s injury is a career ended. Sucks but those who’ve gone through a labral repair will tell you that.
No were just use to a lot of you guys wanting the Brewers to start taking a nose dive but yet after a year and half we still arent in the cellar like you guys predict
It’s coming…it’s early, and your pitching staff isn’t very good. Fact.
You probably know full well about coming early. Fact
A torn labrum is completely different than the torn labia you suffered. Sucks for you you still can’t comprehend that.
Yep. Sure was for Ryu.
And h4 had a hell of a game.
I know its his arbitration year and all, and of course its all about the money but…
Why is Wilkerson not back up,
Hes been solid, reliable, and even hit a bomb so he is not really a liability at the plate, or as much as most pitchers are.
What else does he have left to prove, i remember the last call up, hopped a plane, landed in st louis i believe at 6, in the bullpen by 7, and on the mound at 8?? and threw 4 good innings and hit a homer, next game was solid until he got hit in the foot on a line drive right?