Ex-Yankees arm’s risky Japan leap over Triple-A proving a smart choice

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NEW YORK — Nick Nelson’s gamble worked. The former Yankees pitcher, once trapped between the majors and minors, made the bold decision to walk away from another Triple-A grind and take his career overseas. One season later, that choice looks brilliant.

The 29-year-old right-hander just completed his best professional season with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Nick Nelson posted an impressive 1.93 ERA over 32.2 innings — easily the strongest numbers of his career. After years of inconsistency in the Yankees and Phillies systems, he has found both success and stability abroad.

The money made sense from day one

Nelson’s decision to head to Japan wasn’t just about pride. The Tigers offered him a one-year deal worth $1 million plus incentives last December — a massive jump from Triple-A earnings. Most Triple-A players make less than $3,000 a month during the season. For Nelson, who had never secured a guaranteed major league contract, that financial security was hard to ignore.

By the end of 2024, Nelson had run out of minor league options. His chances in America looked dim. Another year shuttling between minor league cities like Scranton or Syracuse made little sense. Japan offered both a new start and a better payday.

The Yankees originally drafted Nelson in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Gulf Coast State College. He reached the majors in 2020, during the pandemic-shortened season, but struggled to establish himself. Over 22 games with the Yankees from 2020 through 2021, he posted a 6.43 ERA and averaged nearly a walk per inning. His command problems prevented him from earning a lasting role in the Bronx bullpen.

Numbers tell ex-Yankees arm’s transformation story

The turnaround in Japan has been dramatic. Nelson’s 1.93 ERA ranked among the best by any foreign pitcher in NPB this season. More important than the ERA, though, was the control. After years of command issues in the Yankees system, he walked just nine batters across 32.2 innings for Hanshin.

When compared to other former major leaguers pitching in Japan, Nelson’s numbers stand out. Fellow Tigers reliever Javy Guerra, also from the United States, recorded a 13.50 ERA. Former Red Sox arm Darwinzon Hernandez posted a 3.35 ERA with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Ex-Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna finished with a 4.05 ERA in 26 appearances.

“It is not easy to pitch in Japan,” one NPB analyst familiar with the league said. Nelson didn’t just adapt — he thrived.

The Yankees traded Nelson to the Philadelphia Phillies in November 2021, packaging him with catcher Donny Sands in exchange for two minor league players. In 2022, his first season in Philadelphia, he showed flashes of progress, appearing in 47 games and logging 68.2 innings with a 4.85 ERA — the heaviest workload of his career.

Japanese success opens new doors

But by 2023, the Phillies’ confidence faded. Nelson threw only 10.2 innings combined across the next two seasons. No injury was to blame; the club simply lost faith. Facing a career crossroads last winter, Nelson could either chase one more minor league deal or start fresh overseas. He chose the latter — and it saved his career.

In Japan, he proved that players stuck in Triple-A can still find new life abroad. The NPB remains a competitive, high-level league where former MLB players often struggle to adjust to the different baseballs, smaller strike zone, and emphasis on precision pitching. Nelson managed to adjust immediately.

The Hanshin Tigers reached the Japan Series but fell short, losing four games to one against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Nelson did not pitch in the final game, but his regular-season dominance spoke volumes. He had already rebuilt his reputation as a reliable reliever.

The same pitch that once showed flashes of promise in New York — a tight, ground-ball-inducing slider — became his best weapon in Japan. NPB hitters struggled to square it up. His fastball command improved dramatically, and his changeup, once inconsistent during his Yankees days, became far more effective thanks to improved pitch sequencing.

The path forward remains open

Nelson turns 30 in December and stands at an important point in his career. His success in Japan could draw the attention of MLB scouts looking for bullpen help. Several pitchers have used NPB as a springboard back to the majors, including Miles Mikolas, Merrill Kelly, and Scott McGough.

However, Nelson may decide to stay in Japan. The paychecks are larger than anything offered in the U.S. minors, and many American players find the lifestyle rewarding. More importantly, Nelson proved he belongs at a high professional level. Another strong year could earn him a multi-year deal from Japanese teams and cement his future overseas.

His Yankees years now feel like a distant memory. The struggles from 2020 and 2021 no longer define him. In Japan, he has rediscovered the confidence and control that once made him a top pitching prospect. The pitcher who once battled command issues now throws strikes with confidence. The reliever two MLB organizations gave up on has become a trusted piece for a title contender.

Sometimes the smartest career move is the one that takes a player far from familiar surroundings. By choosing Japan over another season in Triple-A, Nelson took a risk that few would have dared. One dominant season later, that decision looks like the turning point of his career — and proof that betting on yourself can pay off big.

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