Darren Nelson

Height:
6-8
Weight:
240
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Granite Bay, CA
High School:
Granite Bay HS

Likely will provide relief help out of the bullpen in final season at Cal Poly.

2021 -- Missed entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery during offseason between 2020 and 2021 seasons ... did not play summer ball.

2020 -- Pitched in one game, securing one out, a fly ball to left field, against Vanderbilt, as a junior ... earned the win as it was the final out of the top of the ninth inning and Cal Poly rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the 9-8 victory ... underwent Tommy John surgery during offseason ... did not play summer ball.

2019 -- As a sophomore made 13 starts on the mound in addition to one relief appearance ... 2-5 record and 4.99 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 48 2/3 innings ... best start was six scoreless innings, allowing just one single, against Cal on Feb. 24 ... also gave up two unearned runs and five hits in six innings versus Columbia on March 10 for first win of season ... season-high six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings at Fresno State on April 30 ... allowed one run and four hits in six innings for second win versus CSUN on March 31 ... gave up one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings at Washington on March 3 ... ERA was 0.78 after first four starts of season ... has dropped his weight to 240 pounds while adding speed to his fastball during the offseason ... did not play summer ball, concentrating on training for junior season.

2018 -- As a weekend starter, posted 5-4 win-loss record and 4.79 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 77.0 innings ... 16 appearances on the mound, all starts ... pitched seven scoreless innings for the win against Michigan on Feb. 25, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts ... season-high five strikeouts over 5 1/3 scoreless frames for win against Dartmouth on March 24 ... also earned victories against Pacific, Long Beach State and UC Riverside, allowing one run and five hits over seven innings in penultimate game of season ... also played eight games (four starts), primarily as designated hitter ... hit .235 with four hits, including a double against San Jose State, and four RBI ... did not play summer ball.

High School -- A standout baseball and basketball player at Granite Bay High School ... under former Cal Poly baseball player Pat Esposito, hit .423 as a senior with six doubles, one triple, four home runs and 20 RBI ... also was 8-0 on the mound with a 1.87 ERA, helping Grizzlies to 19-8-1 overall record, second-place Sierra Foothill League finish and a berth in the CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division I North playoffs ... Nelson was 7-2 with a 0.50 ERA as a junior with 50 strikeouts over 42 1/3 innings ... also hit .333 with four doubles, one home run and 20 RBI ... led Grizzlies to 15-13 record in 2016 and second-place finish in the Sierra Foothill League ... as a sophomore, Nelson was 6-2 with a 1.08 ERA, striking out 49 batters in 39 innings, and hit .347 with 11 RBI ... three times earned first-team All-Sierra Foothill League honors and All-Metro accolades ... career statistics include a .369 batting average with 51 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples and six home runs ... on the mound compiled 21-4 win-loss record and 1.20 ERA with 163 strikeouts over 133 2/3 innings ... earned Art Savage Award, which goes to the area's top male athlete ... was a Max Preps All-American and has played in the Area Code Games ... also selected to play in 2015 17-Under USA Baseball National Team Development Program ... in basketball earned first-team all-league and all-metro honors four times ... recruited by Arizona, Arizona State, Pacific, Saint Mary's, Utah, Long Beach State, Cal, Miami and Nevada, Nelson chose to be a Mustang because "there was no other place that gave me the comfortable feel I got from San Luis Obispo" ... played summer ball for Corvallis Knights in West Coast League ... 2-1 record with a 1.45 ERA in 10 games, all but one in relief, striking out 22 batters over 18 2/3 innings ... pitched two scoreless innings for a win against Walla Walla and tossed four scoreless innings for another win against Salem, allowing one hit and striking out three ... also hit .280 with two doubles and five RBI.

Personal -- Son of Rich and Vera Nelson ... father played baseball at Cal Poly while his mother was a Mustang volleyball player ... two sisters, Taylor and Lindsay ... Taylor played volleyball at Cal Poly ... wants to play in the Major Leagues or own a business ... once suffered third-degree burns on his feet ... claims to be the best fisherman and golfer on the team ... born in Sacramento, Calif. ... recreation, parks and tourism administration's experience industry management major.