Position: LHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/L
Born: 02/25/2001
College: Brigham Young University
How Acquired: Drafted 8th round, 230th Overall, 2022
Bonus: $175,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
Minor League Free Agency: 2028
Options Left: 3
Overview
Nielson was part of a long string of overdrafts by the Pirates on day two of the 2022 draft, most of them college pitchers. MLB.com did not rate him among the top 250 prospects in the draft, while Baseball America ranked him 320th. When drafted, Nielson reportedly threw a low-90s fastball, reaching 95, and a sweeping slider that apparently makes him especially effective against left-handed batters. After the draft he was throwing 89-91. Pitching mostly in relief, he struggled with control problems as a sophomore, but made substantial progress as a junior. He had a 3.21 ERA and walked just seven, with 45 strikeouts, in 33.2 IP. He was also very effective in the Cape Cod League in summer 2022. Nielson signed for $18,200 under the slot amount.
2022-24
After an inning in the FCL, Nielson made six appearances for Bradenton. They went badly, as he struggled to throw strikes, walking over a batter an inning. In 2023, he spent the season with Greensboro, pitching in relief. He got his BB/9 down to 4.1, but his ERA was 4.44. Much of Nielson’s trouble was one bad month, as he allowed an opponents’ OPS of .910. In every other month, the figure was well below .700. He had a big platoon split, with left-handed batters putting up just a .606 OPS, and right-handed hitters .754.
Nielson returned to the Greensboro bullpen for most of 2024 and did much better. He had a 2.39 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9 and 11.9 K/9, and didn’t allow a home run. At the end of July, the Pirates promoted him to Altoona and he had a lot more trouble in 13 games there. He had a 6.55 ERA and 1.68 WHIP, a lot of the trouble due to a 5.7 BB/9. Nielson continued to miss bats, striking out 11.5 per nine. On the full season, he had a significant reverse platoon split.
Stats
Transactions
June 5, 2019: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 40th round, 1210th overall pick.
July 18, 2022: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 8th round, 230th overall pick; signed on July 22.