Bradley John Nelson (born December 23, 1982, in Algona, Iowa) is a Major League Baseball player with the Seattle Mariners organization. He has played primarily first base and outfield. When he is not playing defensively he also serves as a designated hitter.
| Brad Nelson | |
|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners – No. -- | |
| First baseman, Right field | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| September 1, 2008, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| Career statistics (through August 27, 2009) | |
| Batting average | .071 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 0 |
| Teams | |
He was drafted by the Brewers in the fourth round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft. For the 2008 season, he played with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, but was called up to the Brewers on September 1; he made his major league debut that afternoon.
High school
Nelson played high school baseball at Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona, Iowa. He was a pitcher and utility infielder. He started varsity halfway through his eighth grade summer and led the team to the state championship game as a sophomore. The team he played on that season continues to hold the state records for most runs (523), home runs (90), and RBIs (461) in a season; Nelson himself holds the state records for most hits (83) and most RBIs (91) in a season.
Professional career
Milwaukee Brewers
Nelson has played professionally for the Rookie Level Arizona League Brewers and Ogden Raptors, the Single-A Beloit Snappers and High Desert Mavericks, the Double-A Huntsville Stars, and the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. He was part of the 2005 Sounds team that won the Pacific Coast League championship.
He was selected to play in the 2002 Midwest League All-Star game in Lansing, Michigan, and the 2004 Southern League All-Star game in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In both all-star appearances, he won the home run derby that was part of the All-Star festivities. He was also named the Milwaukee Brewers' 2002 Minor League Player of the Year, after leading all minor leaguers with 116 RBIs and 49 doubles at the age of 19.
In addition to his positive career statistics, Nelson also holds the Pacific Coast League record for most strikeouts in a single game, with seven strike-outs in 11 plate appearances in a 24-inning game (the longest game in PCL history) in which the Nashville Sounds played against the New Orleans Zephyrs on May 5 and 6, 2006.
On his second day with the Brewers, September 2, 2008, Nelson collected his first Major League hit, a pinch-hit double in the 10th inning against Luis Ayala of the New York Mets.
Seattle Mariners
On May 14, 2009 he was outrighted to AAA to make room for Mat Gamel, and on May 15, he opted for free agency. Nelson appeared in 28 major-league games for the Brewers. He signed a minor-league deal with the Mariners on May 19.
Nelson currently plays at the Triple-A level Tacoma Rainiers playing mostly right field and some first base.