Jeffrey Brian Nelson (born on June 1, 1965 in St. Paul, Minnesota) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who was named to the National League staff prior to the 1999 season, and has worked throughout both major leagues since 2000. Nelson, a graduate of Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, wears uniform number 45.
Nelson was named Top Prospect at the Joe Brinkman Umpiring School in 1989. He was elevated to the National League prior to the 1999 season along with Paul Nauert to fill the vacancies left by the retirements of Jim Quick and Harry Wendelstedt.
In his young career, Nelson has already umpired in 5 postseasons, including the 2005 World Series. He also worked the League Championship Series in 2002 (NL) and 2004 (AL); and the Division Series in 2000, 2001 (both AL) and 2005 (NL). He umpired in the 2006 All-Star Game. Nelson was behind home plate when Mark McGwire hit his 500th home run, and worked the game in which Rickey Henderson made his 3000th hit.
While in the minor leagues, Nelson was the chief rules instructor at the former Brinkman-Froemming umpire school in Cocoa, Florida from 1997 until to the school's closing in 1998. He continues to teach at umpire clinics in the off-season. Additionally, Nelson is currently the secretary/treasurer of the major league umpires' union, the World Umpires Association.
In 2008 he was assigned to Crew C with crew chief Tim Tschida, Jim Joyce and Mark Carlson.
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