Jimmy Nelson 'ready to break out of this cage' as he learns the next steps in his return
PHOENIX -- After nearly six weeks of camp, the Milwaukee Brewers have laid out their plan moving forward for Jimmy Nelson.
President of baseball operations David Stearns said on Tuesday that the right-hander would open the season on the injured list with the goal of making "a couple starts" at Class AAA San Antonio before re-evaluating his status.
While that is hugely encouraging news for most everyone involved with the organization, it's something of a disappointment for the hard-charging Nelson. He said in late January his expectation was to open the season with the Brewers as he neared the end of his recovery from shoulder reconstruction.
"When it came out last year that I wasn’t going to throw in the playoffs or toward the end of the year, my goal automatically shifted to opening day," Nelson said Wednesday. "That’s what I’ve been working for, for a long time. Of course, it’s tough and I’m disappointed that I’m not going to have that opportunity.
RELATED:Braun excited to see Brewers' pursuit of the top talent
CAMP REPORT:Woodruff continues to shine as Brewers roll over Padres
BOX SCORE:Brewers 10, Padres 7
BREWERS PODCAST:Live tweets from Tom Haudricourt and Todd Rosiak
"But the way I feel and what I think might be two different things, you know? Of course I feel frustrated and disappointed. It maybe just adds a little more motivation to come back better. But when you sit down and think about it, it is a smart plan. It’s just one of those things where you have to choose smarts over emotion.
"I was pretty passionate about that goal, and I feel like I put myself in a position physically to do that. So each time I go out I’ve got to show them that I have put myself in that position."
Manager Craig Counsell understands Nelson's frustration but points at the bigger picture.
"In this sense, we’re not trying to hold Jimmy back here," he said. "But we are making sure that the player is moving along in the right way -- a healthy way, a sustainable way.
"That’s our job."
Nelson has pitched in two Cactus League games, going 1-0 with a 4.50 earned run average and seven strikeouts in four innings. His most recent outing, on Saturday against the Rockies, was especially impressive as he threw 40 pitches over three innings, hit 95 mph with his fastball and flashed a nasty breaking ball.
The progress Nelson has made over a short time has been impressive to Brewers brass and teammates alike. But it's something the 29-year-old -- perhaps the hardest worker on a team loaded with them -- has expected all along.
"I’ve known this for a long time," he said. "I’ve known, with the steps I was taking in the off-season leading into spring training, where I was at and that I was going to surprise some people. That’s one reason it makes it a little bit tougher that I’m not going to be able to be there after opening day with everybody.
"But I’ve done what I can and I’ll continue to do what I can to keep opening eyes and surprising people."
Nelson's next chance will come Thursday, when he throws four innings or 60 pitches in a minor-league game in Maryvale. After that, Nelson will remain in Phoenix and pitch several more times while adding 15 or so pitches each outing to get completely stretched out.
San Antonio opens its season April 4 at Oklahoma City, so assuming Nelson remains healthy and continues to progress he could be deemed ready to return to the Brewers by as early as mid-April. Counsell, meanwhile, has yet to divulge the members of his rotation aside from opening day starter Jhoulys Chacín.
None of that matters to Nelson. His focus is squarely on the here and now.
"It’s just a lot of moving parts over the next month, so I’ll just continue to do my work," he said. "I know what I’m doing is right. I know what our training staff, our strength staff, the routine and everything we’re on is the right path. So I’m very confident in that. There’s comfort in that, knowing that you’re doing the right stuff.
"Trust me, I’m ready to break out of this cage. Trust me. It’s been a long time coming. Each day I get a little more anxious. It’s going to be really fun when I do get back up to Milwaukee."
Top prospects get the word
The Brewers officially told the organization’s top two prospects, second baseman Keston Hiura and outfielder Corey Ray, they won’t be making the team this spring, a foregone conclusion. Third baseman Lucas Erceg also got the word.
Hiura and Ray are ticketed for San Antonio but Counsell said Erceg’s assignment had not yet been determined. Counsell has liked what he has seen from all three prospects in big-league camp.
“I think they all had good camps,” Counsell said. “That was the message for all of them. They all received a lot of playing time.
“For all three of them, putting at-bats under their belts is one of the most important things in their development. Just get more at-bats. That was the good part of camp for them.”
Entering Wednesday, Hiura was tied for the team lead with three home runs and was the leader with 13 runs batted in. He had a .341 on-base percentage and .897 OPS. Ray got off to a strong start but faded a bit of late, and was hitting .220 with two home runs and five RBI, with a .777 OPS.
Erceg was bating .219 with two homers, six RBI and .712 OPS.