2024
- Appeared in 46 games, starting 43.
- Batted .325 with 55 hits in 169 at-bats.
- Ranked third on the team with 44 RBIs.
- Went 9-12 on stolen base attempts.
- .987 fielding percentage with a season-high 12 putouts versus Purdue on March 24th.
- Led the team with nine home runs.
- Went 4-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and five runs scored against Grand View on March 19th.
- Third-Team All-Big Ten.
2023
- Did not see game action.
2022 Honors
- Academic All-Big Ten selection
- Started 14 games — 13 at third base and one at second base
- Hit .255 (14-of-55) with 10 runs scored and four RBIs
- Had three multi-hit games (2 two-hit, 1 three-hit)
- Appeared in one game over final two months of the season because of injury
- Returned to action as a pinch hitter against Purdue (5/8) after missing a month with a hamstring injury
- Left the Illinois game (4/9) after reaggravating a hamstring injury
- Had a career-high three hits, finishing 3-for-5 at Bradley (4/6)
- Hit a two-run homer — the first of his career — and drove in three runs in Iowa’s 6-3 win over No. 12 Texas Tech (3/20)
- Went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI against Cornell College (3/2)
- Went 2-for-5 with a doubles and two runs scored in 12-2 win over Air Force (2/18)
2021 Honors
- Named to the Dean’s List during fall semester
- Appeared in 13 games with one start… hit .091 (1-of-11) with four runs scored
- Notched his first career hit in the series finale against Minnesota (4/11)
- Made his first career start against Minnesota (4/9), serving as the designated hitter
- Walked and scored a run at Ohio State (3/26)
- Made his debut as a pinch runner against No. 18/21 Michigan (3/7)
- Rated as the No. 20 “Impact Freshman” in the Big Ten by D1Baseball
High School
- Ranked as the No. 317-best prospect nationally by Perfect Game
- Rated as the No. 12 prospect in Illinois by Perfect Game and the No. 4 shortstop
- Rated as the 19th-best player in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report and the No. 6 shortstop
- 2019 Dukane Conference Player of the Year after hitting .451 with 11 doubles, seven triples, and seven home runs
- Also had 42 runs, 29 RBIs, and 19 steals
- 2019 all-state, all-region, and all-conference shortstop
- 2019 Prep Baseball Report All-State selection
- High school coach was Dan Schoessling
- Played under Rob Rooney for Longshots
Personal
- Born Sept. 3, 2001
- Son of Roger and Susan Nelson
- Has a sister, Julie
- Father played baseball at William Penn
- Cousin, Joe Rutkowski played collegiate hockey at Ferris State and currently plays professionally in the Philadelphia Flyers organization
- Majoring in business