Baseball

MLB Player Brad Nelson

Brad Nelson, a 2001 graduate of BGHS, was a fourth round selection in the 2001 Major League Baseball draft. He played professional baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers (with whom he reached the major leagues), Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Chicago Cubs organizations. His long-term major league prospects were reduced due to a wrist injury. After thirteen years of playing professionally, he finished his career playing first base for the Minnesota Twins' AAA affiliate (International League) in Rochester, New York.

Since 2001 he has played for the following teams::

Arizona
Brewers
(Rookie Level)

Ogden
Raptors
(Advanced Rookie)

Beloit
Snappers
(Class A)

High Desert
Mavericks
(Advanced Class A)

Huntsville
Stars
(Class AA)

Nashville
Sounds
(Class AAA)

Tacoma
Rainiers
(Class AAA)

Round Rock
Express
(Class AAA)

Iowa
Cubs
(Class AAA)

Rochester
Red Wings
(Class AAA)

Milwaukee
Brewers
(Major League Baseball)

Brad has won Pacific Coast League championships with both the Nashville Sounds and Tacoma Rainiers and a Southern League championship with the Huntsville Stars. He has played in several professional all-star games and has won the all-star home run derby in both the Midwest and Southern Leagues.

Brad got his call-up to the big leagues 9/1/08 and got his first major league hit, a double vs. the Mets September 2, 2008. He batted .286 with 2 doubles and a walk while pinch-hitting in September. He was on the 25-man roster for the National League Championship Series in 2008 and also started the 2009 season on the Brewers' big league roster.

Everyone at Garrigan wishes him good luck as he works he continues his professional career.