James Nelson

Position: 3B
Level: Instructs
Affiliate: Marlins Instructs
League: Instructional League
Born: 10/18/1997 (Age: 26)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 180
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: 15th Rd., 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft (MIA)

Prospect Spotlight

NOTES FROM THE FIELD, INSTRUCTS:

  • Medium frame that has thickened significantly through core/lower-half in the last calendar year. Heavier and less athletic.
  • Struggled at the plate throughout instructs. Apathetic ABs, frustrated with himself, long to the ball, lots of whiffs.
  • Generated surprising power from whippy batspeed in the past, but stroke looks slower. Game power only to pull right now.
  • Below-avg runner up the line that’s average moving underway. Will need to keep body in check to stay avg.
  • Less twitch in his defensive first step than what he showed in the past. Hands work, still charges the ball well. 
  • Fringy arm across the infield, consistently lacked carry and tailed at finish. Not a lock to stay at 3B from this look.

SUMMARY: Coming off a lost 2018, battled injuries and really struggled in his first taste of Advanced A. Seemed to keep that mentality into instructs, gave off a negative energy, wasn’t mentally dialed in. Needs to turn a corner in 2019 to remain a prospect.