Brewers’ Nelson returns from 21-month absence to face Marlins

Jimmy Nelson serves as another example for those who advocate for a universal designated hitter rule.

The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander injured his pitching shoulder while running the bases during a game against the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 8, 2017.

Nelson slid into a base at Wrigley Field and sustained an injury to his labrum. The severity required Nelson to undergo surgery, miss the 2018 season and the first two months of 2019.

For Nelson, the long gap between major league appearances ends Wednesday night on his 30th birthday. He starts the middle game of the Brewers’ three-game home series against the Miami Marlins. “Pitching on my 30th birthday in front of the best fans in the world will be the best birthday present I’ve ever received,” Nelson wrote on his Twitter page. “Looking forward to seeing everyone and doing my best to reciprocate the love and support.”

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Nelson, who is 33-44 in 4 1/2 major league seasons, began 2019 on the injured list and eventually was assigned to Triple-A San Antonio, where he appeared in five games and went 3-0 with a 3.75 ERA in 24 innings.

His return comes after the Brewers placed starters Gio Gonzalez (arm fatigue) and Jhoulys Chacin (back) on the injured list in the past few days.

At the time of his injury, Nelson had become a formidable fixture in Milwaukee’s rotation. He ended the 2017 season with a 12-6 record and a 3.45 ERA, and he finished ninth in National League Cy Young Award voting.

With a victory Wednesday, the Marlins would assure themselves of a second consecutive winning road trip. Miami began the current six-game trip winning by two of three at San Diego, then trounced the Brewers 16-0 in the series opener Tuesday night. A franchise-record 11-run rally in the fifth inning, in which every hitter had an RBI, keyed the lopsided win.

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