Nelson was named as the Top Prospect at the Joe Brinkman Umpiring School in 1989.
He was promoted to the National League prior to the 1999 season along with Paul Nauert to fill vacancies left by the retirements of Jim Quick and Harry Wendelstedt.
While in the minor leagues,Nelson was the chief rules instructor at the former Brinkman-Froemming umpire school in Cocoa,Florida from 1997 until 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 Major League Baseball Umpires Association.[citation needed]
Nelson retired prior to the 2024 season,and Chris Guccione succeeded him as crew chief.[1][2]
Nelson was the plate umpire on September 27,2012,when Tigers pitcher Doug Fister set an American League record by striking out nine consecutive batters.[7]
While working home plate during Game 3 of the 2019 American League Championship Series,Nelson took two foul balls off his mask and was forced to leave the game after the fourth inning due to suffering a concussion.[11] He would miss the remainder of the series and was replaced by Mike Everitt.
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