Nelson allowed one run on three hits while striking out two and walking none over four innings in Friday's spring game against the Rockies.
Nelson, the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year for 2021, has been throwing since minor-league camp opened last month, so it's natural for him to be up to four innings at this stage of spring. Drafted as a reliever in the second round of the 2019 draft, Nelson is being groomed as a starter for now. He went a combined 7-4 with a 3.17 ERA in 22 starts for High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo in 2021.