Chris Nelson
From BR Bullpen
Christopher Cesar Nelson
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 176 lb.
- Born September 3, 1985 in Escondido, CA USA
Chris Nelson begins 2007 with the Modesto Nuts.
Nelson hit .552 as a high school senior, scoring 54 runs and driving in 44 in 87 AB while stealing 29 bases and slugging 1.000. Baseball America and USA Today both named him as a first-team high school All-American infielder in 2004. The Colorado Rockies took him with the 9th pick of the 2004 amateur draft. He was the second position player taken, following Matt Bush, and signed for a $2,150,000 bonus. He had been rated the #4 prospect in the draft by Baseball America. Assigned to the Casper Rockies, he hit .347/.432/.510 in 38 games. Baseball America ranked him as the 4th-best shortstop prospect in baseball, Colorado's #2 prospect and the #1 prospect in the Pioneer League.
Nelson struggled in his first full season of pro ball. He hit .241/.304/.330 for the Asheville Tourists and only .183 against left-handers. Baseball America still rated him the #20 prospect in the South Atlantic League and 10th in the Rockies organization.
In 2006, Chris returned to Asheville and batted .260/.313/.416 with 101 strikeouts in 466 AB. He did show some pop, with 38 doubles, and stole 14 bases in 16 tries. His 41 errors led South Atlantic League shortstops. That winter, he hit .261/.305/.375 for the Waikiki BeachBoys.
Through July 7, 2007, Nelson is hitting .261/.345/.425 with 19 doubles, 39 walks and 12 steals for the Modesto Nuts.
Sources: 2007 Rockies Media Guide, 2005-2007 Baseball Almanacs, MILB.com, Hawaii Winter Baseball
