Height:
6-3 Weight:
229 lbs. Throws:
Right Bats:
Left Positions:
Catcher Born:
December 14, 1969, Brisbane , Queensland Drafted:
Not drafted by an MLB team. Acquired:
Signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent to a minor-league contract on Jan. 28, 1987.
Scouting Report
1999 Season After spending three years at first base and in the outfield, Dave Nilsson moved back behind the plate and had the best year of his career. Many doubted the brittle Australian would be able to hold up under the strain of catching, but he surprised them all. Nilsson caught every day, hit as well as ever and made the All-Star team before a broken thumb ended his season in August.
Hitting Nilsson is a line-drive hitter who drives the ball hard to all fields. He doesn't loft the ball enough to be a true home-run hitter, but he produces many long drives into the gaps. He makes good contact for someone who's able to put such a charge into the ball. He's murder on pitches down and in. Lefties always have been able to get him to chase breaking balls down and away. He has produced whenever he has been healthy, though staying healthy has been a challenge for him.
Baserunning & Defense Nilsson has a slow release and a scattershot arm, and opposing baserunners took full advantage of it last year. His mechanics behind the plate are acceptable. He can fill in at first base but is stretched to cover left or right field. On the bases, he's strictly a station-to-station man.
2000 Outlook A free agent, Nilsson has discussed taking the 2000 season off to play in the Olympics being held in his native Australia. The only certainty seems to be that he won't be back with Milwaukee. Having proven he still can get by behind the plate, he should be a sought-after commodity. Even as a first baseman or DH, his skills would be helpful for many clubs. In a more favorable home-run park, he could come through with a surprising number of longballs. Henry Blanco, acquired in a four-team trade in December, will be Milwaukee's regular catcher in 2000.
Scouting Report Source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 2000 STATS, Inc.
Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited.
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