During his daily Zoom press conference on Monday afternoon, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that 31-year-old Dodgers right-hander Jimmy Nelson will undergo surgery to his lower back (lumbar) on Tuesday morning.

“We just couldn’t get any traction with him,” Roberts told reporters. “I know he was frustrated throughout the Spring.”

Roberts said that Nelson, whom the Dodgers signed to a one-year/$1.25 million contract (with a club option for 2021) on January 7, has been dealing with back issues since Spring Training-1. The Dodgers skipper added that the Klamath Falls, OR native and second-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010 out of the University of Alabama will be out for the year.

Nelson has dealt with a variety of injuries during his six seasons with the Brewers. In 2017, he underwent shoulder surgery and missed the 2018 season, and then suffered an elbow injury that limited him to only 10 games last season. In 2017, Nelson posted a 12–6 record and 3.49 ERA with Milwaukee, with an impressive 10.2 strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio.

Although Nelson was initially vying for a spot in the Dodgers starting rotation, realistically, he was more likely in contention as a long man out of the Dodgers bullpen before being shut down during Spring Training-1.

“Jimmy was a guy that we really counted on, whether it be in the pen with length, meaningful innings back there, or potentially to fill in as a starter, compete for a role,” Roberts explained. “Fortunately we have a lot of viable options. I feel bad for Jimmy, but it’s an opportunity for other guys.”

Nelson’s surgery on Tuesday morning will be performed by noted back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles.

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