Dodgers News: RHP Jimmy Nelson Leaving a Lot to Be Desired on the Mound Right Now

The once dominant reliever is struggling to find the strike zone this spring.

When the Dodgers re-signed right-handed pitcher Jimmy Nelson on the eve of spring training, the club did so with a hope that he could return to the form he displayed in a dominant run in 2021. He posted a 1.86 ERA over 28 games before blowing out his elbow and undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery.

He spent last season recovering from surgery and now is back and not only competing to prove he can bounce back and get big league hitters out, he's also competing for a role on the opening day roster. 

However, things aren't quite going according to plan this spring. The veteran has walked 8 batters over 2.1 innings and has recorded zero strikeouts. In his most recent outing on Thursday night, he faced 5 batters, walking 4 and getting just 1 out. Dave Roberts spoke with the media about the performance.

“It wasn’t good. I don’t think there’s anything else to say about it. He didn’t have command, period ... I know he expects more from himself, and as we get closer [to the season], you gotta tighten some things up. ... He has to go out there and have better command of the baseball. We’re expecting him to pitch meaningful innings for us. What we do as a pitching staff is flood the strike zone. And that’s something that he’s got to get better at.”

Nelson signed a major league deal with the team but his roster status is all but certain. If he can't find something over the next week to ten days, he could open the season on the injured list where the team can stash him while he continues to work on his command. 

Roberts confirmed there were no physical issues with Nelson, so at this point there may be something more mental as he bounces back from another major operation in his career.

If Nelson can't figure it out, that might be all she wrote for the veteran right-hander in Dodger blue.