Jimmy Nelson [Latest (10/6): Nelson: No longer a “rehabber” -- post #161]

[Madhawk23]

Just curious if there have been any recent updates/developments that we've heard about Jimmy Nelson the past 2-3 weeks. I remember reading some things right at the start of the spring training, but do we have anything solid about his progress since then? Have they advanced his throwing program yet? Is he pitching off a mound? Just wondering if things are still ahead of schedule, or if there have been any setbacks?

[Brewer Fever]

I think he's in the stage where they incrementally extend the distance throwing on flat ground. If I recall correctly he wasn't going to take the mound until soon after spring training ended.

[Brewer Fever]

Found the article I had in mind. The Nelson info is after the opening section on Vogt.

 

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2018/02/28/brewers-catcher-stephen-vogt-expected-out-2-3-weeks-strained-throwing-shoulder/379910002

 

Nelson progressing: While other candidates for the Brewers' starting rotation have begun ramping up their Cactus League innings with the calendar turning to March, Jimmy Nelson remains on a closely monitored throwing program.

 

"He’s kind of on the tedious throwing program, so you just let it go and every once in a while you hear a longer distance he’s throwing," Counsell said. "But he’s doing great."

 

Nelson, who underwent an extensive surgical procedure on his right shoulder last September after injuring it diving back into first base, remains limited to throwing off flat ground. He won't be allowed to graduate to a mound until sometime after the Brewers have opened the season.

 

The article further states that by the end of spring training he'll be about 7 weeks into a throwing program. So he's been at it for awhile now. The end of spring training is also when they anticipated the next update.

[markedman5]

McCalvy tweet today

Jimmy Nelson is up to 105 feet in his throwing program. The next step, 120, is an important one, and he will stay there for a few weeks. There’s hope of getting him back on a mound in the second half of April.

[Brewer Fever]

McCalvy tweet today

Jimmy Nelson is up to 105 feet in his throwing program. The next step, 120, is an important one, and he will stay there for a few weeks. There’s hope of getting him back on a mound in the second half of April.

 

Beat me to it, thanks markedman5. All and all it sounds like they're being conservative as they probably should. I remember hearing Jimmy say he was looking to beat their timeline and in fact didn't even want to look at it. Just glad to hear everything is going in a forward direction with no apparent setbacks.

[82brewcrew82]

McCalvy tweet today

Jimmy Nelson is up to 105 feet in his throwing program. The next step, 120, is an important one, and he will stay there for a few weeks. There’s hope of getting him back on a mound in the second half of April.

Sounds like right around the ASB, maybe a bit sooner, sounds realistic.

[Fear The Chorizo]

If he's on the mound less than a month from now, then a month before the ASB is very realistic if there are no setbacks - that means mid June. Obviously depends how his program progresses and when rehab stints get going to really forecast his MLB return.

 

Nelson's shoulder injury didn't really involve damage to portions of the shoulder routinely stressed to throw a baseball - IMO if the surgery was successful and he's been able to rebuild the strength he had across that portion of the shoulder, his throwing program is essentially the same as any healthy pitcher walking into spring training. That's all great news!

[pacopete4]

Becoming more apparent that we should all be happy that we didn’t back ourselves in a corner with a huge free agent deal. What a huge piece he could be come mid season.

[TURBO]

Becoming more apparent that we should all be happy that we didn’t back ourselves in a corner with a huge free agent deal. What a huge piece he could be come mid season.

 

"could" is the key word in your last sentence. I still think that not planning on anything meaningful from Jimmy was the smart play this season. If he comes back and adds to the mix, that is just a bonus.

 

I was not on board with Arrieta, Lynn, or Cobb, but I did want Darvish.

[TJseven7]

Becoming more apparent that we should all be happy that we didn’t back ourselves in a corner with a huge free agent deal. What a huge piece he could be come mid season.

 

If too much valuable pitching is a corner, well I want to be in that corner REAL BAD!

[TooLiveBrew]

McCalvy had an update yesterday on Nelson:

 

Slow and steady for Nelson

 

Jimmy Nelson is still throwing on flat ground at 150 feet in his comeback from right shoulder surgery, patiently waiting for the day he gets to pitch on a mound again. He remains ahead of schedule, according to both Nelson and Counsell.

 

"We're just looking to see consistency," Nelson said. "What we want is 5-6 good days in a row. It doesn't make sense to do a bullpen [session] before that."

 

Said Counsell: "We've got to put this in perspective. He got to this place so fast that we've got to give him time to get over hurdles. He's ahead of schedule, but that doesn't mean we are going to fly through this thing. He's not 'stuck.' He's playing catch, and he has to clear hurdles to get to the next step. Everything is, in our eyes, going really well. It's not like it's set in concrete how the rehab goes. I'm thrilled where he's at right now."

[jonescm128]

Has anyone heard the latest on Nelson? The last update was a couple weeks ago.

[FVBrewerFan]

Yea, haven't heard or read anything either. "What we want is 5-6 good days in a row" is a little troubling, seems to imply he hasn't had 5-6 good days in a row. But I may be reading too much into that comment. At this point, I would be shocked if he's back by the AS break- though I never expected him to return earlier than that anyhow.

[wildcat2237]

Is Nelson with the team in Milwaukee or is he in Arizona with the extended spring squad?

[SeaBass]

Just this.

 

Adam McCalvy

Replying to @bbamrah

Still in that 150-foot flat ground stage. Slow and steady.

I don't really expect to hear anything more until late May or early June. Seem to recall that was the target for him to start throwing some bullpen sessions.

[TooLiveBrew]

Has anyone heard the latest on Nelson? The last update was a couple weeks ago.

Found this in a quick Twitter search, from yesterday:

 

any news on Jimmy Nelson?

Still in that 150-foot flat ground stage. Slow and steady.

https://twitter.com/bbamrah/status/995727131312361472?s=19

[nate82]

Looks like late July or early August for Nelson to return to the Brewers. Realistically it is probably late August or early September.

[homer]

Is Nelson with the team in Milwaukee or is he in Arizona with the extended spring squad?

 

I thought I saw him on the bench in Colorado.

[Roderick]

Is Nelson with the team in Milwaukee or is he in Arizona with the extended spring squad?

 

I thought I saw him on the bench in Colorado.

 

Me too.

[MrTPlush]

Looks like late July or early August for Nelson to return to the Brewers. Realistically it is probably late August or early September.

 

Based on?

[Fear The Chorizo]

Looks like late July or early August for Nelson to return to the Brewers. Realistically it is probably late August or early September.

 

Based on?

 

Nothing

[nate82]

Looks like late July or early August for Nelson to return to the Brewers. Realistically it is probably late August or early September.

 

Based on?

 

Based on he hasn't thrown from the mound yet. If he is not throwing off the mound by next week July is still possible but not likely.

 

Nelson still needs to throw off of the mound and then he will progress to a simulated game. After one or two of those sessions he will have a bullpen session and then it is off to the minors for 2 - 3 rehab games. You are looking at a minimum of 4-6 weeks and that is if nothing goes wrong.

 

So let's say Nelson starts throwing off the mound next week. That puts him on track for a simulated game at the end of the month. They are probably going to do this twice so that puts his bullpen session during the 2nd week of June. The next step is the minor league rehab starts let's say they do two games. That puts Nelson at the 2nd or 3rd week of July back in Milwaukee. Any set backs and you are looking at August or September or not at all.

[JohnBriggs12]

150 foot throws off flat ground are about building arm strength. It's not like he can't get up on a mound and throw, but the point is to have him ready to go when he does. When he starts throwing off a mound, it's like the first day of spring training. Figure 6 weeks from then to be ready to face major league hitters.

[TURBO]

Jimmy Nelson is heading to Los Angeles for a progress report on his surgically-repaired right shoulder.

 

Nelson has been playing long toss out to 150 feet and it sounds like he could be cleared for mound work if the check-up goes well. The right-hander might be ready to join the Brewers' starting rotation around the end of June, though it's a little too early to put an exact timetable on it.

 

Source: Tom Haudricourt on TwitterMay 16 - 1:36 PM

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Jimmy Nelson is heading to Los Angeles for a progress report on his surgically-repaired right shoulder.

 

Nelson has been playing long toss out to 150 feet and it sounds like he could be cleared for mound work if the check-up goes well. The right-hander might be ready to join the Brewers' starting rotation around the end of June, though it's a little too early to put an exact timetable on it.

 

Source: Tom Haudricourt on TwitterMay 16 - 1:36 PM

 

Well, end of June sounds much, much better than that speculative late July/August/September guess.