Hard work is in Nelson’s genetic code
But pitcher is turning intensity into focus
Phoenix — It is in Jimmy Nelson’s genetic code to be an intense, hard worker. Nelson’s parents, Jim and Deb, instilled a work ethic in their son at an early age, teaching him the best money spent was money he earned.
“I was raised to work for what you want,” recalled the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander, who grew up in the Florida panhandle in the quaintly named town of Niceville.
“I had my own job and paid for my own stuff. Even later when I got a car, I paid for my own gas.”
Nelson’s parents also passed along some pretty nice athletic genes. Jim played football at the University of Florida and also threw the shot put and discus for the track team. Deb played basketball at Florida State University.
“We’ve all been pretty competitive,” said Nelson. “I get a lot of that from them.”
Nelson noted that his stepfather, Ed, also has “worked his butt off,” providing another solid example.
“He’s more of a stoic, straightfaced person,” added Nelson. “You don’t really see a lot of emotions with him or ups and downs. That’s an admirable trait. I know sometimes that’s hard for me. I’ve always been on the other end of the spectrum.” Which is putting it mildly. Intensity has been Nelson’s calling card as a pitcher, back to his days at the University of Alabama. In fact, on Nelson’s first recruiting trip to Tuscaloosa, he knew without equivocation the school was for him.
“That was the big thing there — mental toughness and work ethic,” he said. “That just kind of amplified those traits in me. It was awesome. They got after it. It makes it that more satisfying whenever something positive happens. You feel like you’ve earned it.
“I just feel that no matter what
stage you’re at in your career, you’ve got to earn everything. It’s not given to you, especially at this level.”
And, so, Nelson works and works and works. And when he’s tired, he works some more. His focus is unwavering. Get in the way when the 6-foot-6, 250-pound hulk is on his way to a workout and you might get flattened like a pancake, which by the way is one of his favorite foods.
Like any fiery, self-motivated person, the 26-year-old Nelson sometimes burns too hot. He hasn’t yet found a reliable governor to consistently control his engine, and thus can be his own enemy at times.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell has no problem whatsoever when those occasions pop up. He’d much rather have to calm down or soothe an about-to-burst competitor than try to light a fire under a laissez-faire type more comfortable reclining on a clubhouse couch.
“I think that’s one of Jimmy’s strengths, really,” said Counsell. “I don’t see that as a flaw at all. It serves him as much as anything. He’s on the end of that spectrum on the preparation things. He’s kind of maniacal in the ways he does things but that’s what I like about it. It’s a good thing.
“That’s who he is. If you go down that road, you can find something with everybody that you want different. If it’s not how we would do it, you find something that’s wrong with it. I don’t feel like he was burned out at any time of the season last year. I really don’t.
“I think that with his preparation, he feels like he was prepared at all points of the season. His mission is to make every start and be as prepared as he can for every start. I love that. That’s a great thing. Everybody’s got their different little slant on how they go about that. That’s how he chooses to do it.”
Nelson, who went 11-13 with a 4.11 earned run average in 30 starts in his first full season with the Brewers in 2015, says he was much worse at calming his emotions in college. After being selected in the second round of the 2010 draft, he worked harder on staying evenkeeled — or something in that vicinity — in Milwaukee’s farm system.
“I learned how to, not turn down the intensity, but control it better,” said Nelson, who was fortunate to avoid serious injury last September when struck on the head by a line drive. “I try to funnel that into positive things such as focusing instead of just getting pissed off or whatever. Instead of trying harder, you focus a little more and relax a little more.
“Everybody in this locker room is extremely competitive. Everybody has a level of intensity or they wouldn’t be here. You can’t make it in this game if you’re not really competitive or have some level of intensity.
“Some guys funnel that a little different or control it a little different. I show it a little more than others. Everybody is a little different. Some guys have to remain more calm and stoic. Some guys can show it a little more and it doesn’t affect them (negatively).”
The thing about pitching is you’re normally more successful the calmer you are on the mound. Tunnel vision works as long as you’re not running through the tunnel with your hair on fire.
As a power pitcher who relies heavily on his fastball and sharp-breaking slider, Nelson realizes he pays for getting too excited out there with loss of command.
“As a pitcher, you probably realize you’re a little too amped if you’re out there overthrowing and missing your spots a lot, or if you’re spiking a lot of pitches in the dirt or going up too high with your fastball,” he said. “You realize it’s from trying too hard.
“That’s one concept that was tough for me and I still work on every day. Trying harder doesn’t necessarily give you better results. Sometimes, trying less gives you better results. It seems crazy.
“Those games last year when I was on the mound and felt I could almost close my eyes and take a nap, I was locked in. It’s a balance between being relaxed and calm and still maintaining intensity.”
And, so, Nelson’s daily fight continues to stay true to himself as an intense person and player yet keep the reins pulled in enough to avoid stampeding over innocent bystanders. The Brewers think he has plenty of potential yet to fulfill and aren’t about to get in the way of his bull-in-a-chinashop approach to doing things.
“Jimmy is a talented pitcher, so it’s easier to see a path for him to another level,” said Counsell. “He understands that as well and pushes for that every day.
“He’s always thinking about the next thing he can do to get ready. He doesn’t really get off that when he’s at the ballpark. ‘What’s the next thing I’m going to do to get ready?’ It works for him.”
If focus and steely determination count for anything, Nelson has barely scratched the surface of what he might be able to accomplish with the Brewers. And, should it not work out for some reason, it won’t be because Nelson cheated himself along the way.
“There’s always something to improve on, whether you’ve got one year up here or 10 or 12 years,” he said. “That’s what makes this game so awesome. No matter how complete somebody looks as a player, there’s always something they can work on.
“I think right now I have a good foundation, mentally and physically. Now, there are some things I want to polish and add on to that foundation.”