Upbeat Nelson on verge of facing hitters

MESA, Ariz. -- Jimmy Nelson was in a talkative mood Saturday morning, buoyed by a productive, 35-pitch bullpen session the day before, which followed a pause in his throwing prompted by a bout of forearm fatigue. Nelson’s next step is scheduled for Monday, a day off for most of the Brewers, when the right-hander will throw another 35-pitch ’pen, followed by a simulated inning of live batting practice.

Whether the Brewers schedule a second live BP after that remains to be seen, but it means Nelson is back on a path toward pitching in a Major League game for the first time since September 2017, when he injured his throwing shoulder diving back to first base at Wrigley Field. Facing hitters is typically the final step for a pitcher before working in Cactus League games.

“It’s a big step for Jimmy because he’ll face hitters the next time,” manager Craig Counsell said. “You’re always going to look forward, so you keep looking forward, and it’s another big step he’s going to take.”

Here’s some of what Nelson had to say in a chat at his locker early Saturday:

On pairing with Yasmani Grandal for Friday’s session:

“That’s the first time we’ve gotten to work together. Just from talking to him early on, it seems like he has a really advanced feel for pitching and calling. We’re already on the same page with a lot of stuff, as far as sequencing and how to pitch guys, even though we haven’t even faced guys yet. We’ve talked about some situations. So, I’m excited. That’s actually one of the most fun parts; there’s so much turnover in the game, getting to know new guys. Two years ago, me and [Stephen] Vogt really got on the same page, and that makes everything easier. …

“I’ve noticed that the catchers are always here first. They’re always here super early and leave late. It seems like me, Yaz, [Ryan] Braun and ‘Yeli’ [Christian Yelich] are the last ones to leave. [Grandal] is always doing video or working out or doing something. It’s not like he’s in here lounging around.”

On where his fastball is sitting, post-surgery:

“I have no idea. They haven’t had the [radar] gun on me the last few bullpens. I have no clue. It’s coming out pretty good. You can ask Yaz what he thinks I was throwing yesterday, but he said it was coming out pretty good. He was pretty happy with yesterday, as was I.”

Last fall, Nelson was 88-91 mph in bullpens.

“But that was after eight to nine months of throwing. I was 20 pounds lighter. That’s a big deal, too. When you, as a player, are used to playing in a certain weight range and all of a sudden you’re under or over that range, it can change a lot of things biomechanically. I think I’m in a lot better place now physically. And even [last fall], though my velos weren’t great, the swings people were taking, it seemed like it was playing up.

“I think that’s what I’m throwing in my bullpens now. Usually, whatever you’re throwing in bullpens, you get a good 3-4 mph harder in a game. And, hell, in a big league game, probably even harder because of the adrenaline. If you’re 90 mph in a bullpen, I would assume you’re 93-95 in a game. I’m excited to see what it is. My second bullpen out here, they had the gun on me and I was 88 consistently, and I didn’t even really feel good that day. That was just an ‘easy’ bullpen. I’ve thrown a couple bullpens since then where I was definitely throwing harder -- significantly harder with less effort, which is good.”

On his feel for pitching and the work he has done in the past year to “clean up” his delivery:

“Everything is there. Sequencing, movement, command, the pitchability -- it’s all there. I think it’s just as good, if not better, than it’s been. It’s just a matter of getting the arm acclimated to the ‘sit down, get ups,’ which I don’t think are going to be an issue for my shoulder. My shoulder, no matter how many pitches I’ve thrown or how hard or long toss, hasn’t really felt tired or sore. I get a little tight, but that’s normal for anybody. …

“Some of this cleaned-up arm-path stuff, I’m actually feeling my pitches better out front. I’m able to spin it a little better, I think. My curveball, slider, even my changeup is, like, a lot better. It’s almost like a split-finger, a split-change. I can feel everything better out front, but that in turn means your forearm muscles are getting more of a workout out front as opposed to coming out early, [which] is more ‘grip it and rip it’ and if you hit your spot, you hit your spot, and if you don’t, whatever. I’m feeling stuff out front better, so I’m able to manipulate it better. That’s fun when you can do that and you can feel that. That means your timing and delivery is where it needs to be. It’s just your muscles have to get used to it. But it’s good. It’s good.”