Joe Nelson

Joe Nelson
Nelson with the Florida Marlins in 2008
Relief pitcher
Born: (1974-10-25) October 25, 1974 (age 42) Alameda, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 13, 2001, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
June 9, 2010, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	7–2
Earned run average	4.38
Strikeouts	154
Teams
Atlanta Braves (2001) Boston Red Sox (2004) Kansas City Royals (2006) Florida Marlins (2008) Tampa Bay Rays (2009) Boston Red Sox (2010)

Joseph George Nelson (born October 25, 1974) is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher.

Nelson attended St. Joseph's High School in Alameda, California. At St. Joseph, Nelson played basketball with NBA star Jason Kidd.

After two seasons at Seminole State College from 1994–-1995, he transferred to the University of San Francisco. In a switch to pitching at USF, he went undefeated, recording five saves.

After being selected twice by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 and 1994 amateur drafts, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 1996. Nelson made it to the majors in 2001, seeing two stints of an inning apiece in mop-up duty, where his ERA was 36.00.

Released by the Braves the following summer, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox and quickly released after four appearances for Double-A Trenton.

Nelson re-signed with the Red Sox in the spring of 2004, and was promoted to the majors in June as bullpen help. After recording a scoreless inning against Texas, he gave up 5 runs over 1²⁄₃ innings in his next two appearances. He was optioned back to Triple-A when Mark Malaska was activated off the disabled list.