Chris Nelson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Nelson |
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Nelson with the Colorado Rockies
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| Infielder | |||
| Born: September 3, 1985 Escondido, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 19, 2010, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 29, 2014, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .265 | ||
| Home runs | 16 | ||
| Runs batted in | 100 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Christopher Lars Nelson (born September 3, 1985) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as an infielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Chris played for the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and San Diego Padres.
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Chris Nelson's Early Life and High School Baseball
Chris Nelson grew up in Escondido, California. He played baseball at Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Chris was a very talented pitcher in high school. However, he had a special surgery called Tommy John surgery after his junior year. This surgery helps athletes recover from arm injuries.
High School Batting Success
Even after his surgery, Chris continued to excel. In his senior year, he was an amazing hitter. He had a batting average of .552. This means he got a hit more than half the times he went up to bat. Chris planned to play college baseball at the University of Georgia.
Chris Nelson's Professional Baseball Career
Chris Nelson was chosen by the Colorado Rockies in the 2004 baseball draft. He was the ninth player picked overall. This was a big deal, and he received a large signing bonus.
Playing for the Colorado Rockies
In July 2007, Chris was named the Rockies' Farm Player of the Month. This showed he was doing well in the minor leagues. He made his MLB debut on June 18, 2010. He joined the team to fill in for an injured player. Chris played second base for the Rockies.
A Memorable Stolen Base
On September 9, 2010, Chris did something very exciting. He stole home plate against the Cincinnati Reds. This means he ran from third base to home plate and scored a run while the pitcher was throwing the ball. It was his first career stolen base and helped the Rockies win the game!
Chris played for the Rockies until April 2013.
Time with Other MLB Teams
After leaving the Rockies, Chris played for a few other MLB teams in 2013.
New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels
On May 1, 2013, Chris was traded to the New York Yankees. He played a short time there. Then, on May 18, 2013, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim claimed him. While with the Angels, he hit his first career grand slam. A grand slam is a home run hit when all three bases are occupied, scoring four runs.
San Diego Padres
In June 2014, Chris signed with the San Diego Padres. He was called up to play for them on July 18, 2014. He had a good debut game, getting two hits and two runs batted in. Chris played for the Padres until September 2014.
Later Career and Coaching
After his time in MLB, Chris continued to play in the minor leagues for several teams. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014, the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals in 2015. He even returned to the Colorado Rockies organization in 2016. In 2017, he played for the Sugar Land Skeeters and the Kansas City Royals minor league system.
Becoming a Coach
After his playing career, Chris Nelson became a baseball coach. In 2018, he was named the Bench Coach for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. This team is a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. He became an assistant hitting coach for them in 2024. In 2025, he was named assistant hitting coach for the ACL Royals, a rookie-level team for the Kansas City Royals.
Awards and Honors for Chris Nelson
Chris Nelson received several awards during his playing career:
- 2008: AFL Rising Stars
- 2007: Baseball America High Class A All-Star
- 2007: CAL Post-Season All-Star
- 2006: SAL Mid-Season All-Star
