Nelson not concerned by forearm discomfort

PHOENIX -- An upbeat Jimmy Nelson shed more light Tuesday on the arm discomfort that forced a pause in his throwing program, repeating a handful of times his belief that “it’s nothing to worry about.”

“It’s totally unrelated to my shoulder. That’s good,” said Nelson, who missed all of last season while recovering from 2017 right shoulder surgery. “The shoulder’s good and strong. It’s just a freak thing.”

Nelson resumed playing catch on Tuesday, and he expects to be back on the mound by the end of the week. The right-hander said he caught a spike on the mound while spinning a curveball during his most recent bullpen session, putting him in a “weird” position that tweaked his right forearm.

Rather than push through it, the Brewers recommended a break from throwing from Saturday through Monday. Manager Craig Counsell referred to it as “a very minor setback.”

“I know, once I get out there on the mound and get into a routine, everything will be nice,” Nelson said. “I’m not worried about the results. It’s just getting everything feeling good. This is definitely nothing to worry about. I know some people are freaking out, but this is definitely nothing to worry about.”

He took a similarly low-stress approach to a question about the calendar. Nelson will have to navigate one or two healthy bullpens before advancing to face hitters in live batting practice, which will give him his first feedback about his post-surgery pitching.

Only after one or two of those sessions would he pitch in Cactus League games and begin building the endurance required of a starting pitcher. Nelson’s aim is to be ready for Opening Day, which is March 28 against the Cardinals at Miller Park.

“I’m unbelievably eager [to face hitters],” he said. “With the stuff I’ve gone through, and the time and everything, and the resources around me, we’re all on the same page. They’ve got a good plan for me. They’ve got to try to slow me down a little bit at times. I’m always eager to push the envelope and take the next step.

“You’ve got to take a step back and look at the big picture here. You know we’re going to be a good team; we’re going to be in it all the way to the end. So, it’s not something where you have to throw through little aches now. It’s so early in the spring. You don’t want that to be a lingering thing that carries into the season and you have to manage throughout the year. Just something we can nip in the bud now.”

The Brewers would love to get back the Nelson from 2017, when he was their top starter until he injured his shoulder diving back to first base after lining a long single off the ivy at Wrigley Field.

Nelson is aiming higher.

“I look at it a little bit different,” he said. “I’m definitely enjoying the work more than I used to. I used to look at it like a daily checklist to do. There’s more joy in it for me now. I realize how fortunate I am.

“I’m just excited to throw today. If you asked me a few years ago, I don’t know if I’d be excited just to play catch. I know I’ve put in the work and I know, physically, how I’ll feel once I get off the mound and get into a routine. I’m not worried about the results.

“I honestly believe I’m going to be better than I was in ’17. The goal was never to get back to ’17. It was always to be much better.”