It hasn't come easy for Joe Nelson. Inked to a free-agent contract by the Rays in the offseason, the 34-year-old right-hander has been a model of perseverance, overcoming a series of arm injuries while bouncing from team to team, mostly in the minor leagues. Originally drafted by the Braves in 1996, Nelson finally gained a toehold as a big-league pitcher 10 years later, appearing in 43 games out of the bullpen for the Royals. After enduring yet another setback—he missed the entire 2007 campaign recovering from labrum surgery—Nelson had an outstanding 2008 season with the Marlins, coming out of the pen 59 times while logging a 2.00 ERA. Nelson, whose signature pitch has been dubbed "The Vulcan," talked about his tumultuous career prior to an early-season game.
Baseball Prospectus
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