Nelson Promoted to Advanced-A Tampa; Vargas Reassigned to Charleston

Nick Nelson will return to his home state for his Florida State League debut

(Zach Bland)

May 3, 2018

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The New York Yankees announced the promotion of RiverDogs right-handed starting pitcher Nick Nelson to Advanced-A Tampa on Saturday. Charleston's parent club also called up righty starter Alexander Vargas from extended spring training for assignment in the Lowcountry.
Nelson, 22, is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in five starts with the RiverDogs this season. The starter is currently the Yankees' No. 27 prospect by MLB Pipeline. The Panama City, Florida native set a new career-best with 12 strikeouts in a single game against Kannapolis on April 13 and totaled 35 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .198 average with the RiverDogs.
Nelson has a 4-16 career record with a 4.23 ERA in 37 starts. The Gulf Coast State College product debuted with Rookie-level Pulaski in 2016 before spending all of 2017 in Charleston, going 3-12. Nelson has a 2.08:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his Minor League career.
Nelson is the first Charleston RiverDog to be promoted to Advanced-A Tampa this season.

Vargas is the Yankees' Preseason No. 28 prospect according to Baseball America. The 20-year-old made his professional debut with the DSL Yankees 2 in on his 17th birthday in July 2014. A native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, Vargas went 2-3 with a 3.17 ERA for the RiverDogs in nine starts in 2017.
Vargas has a career line of 9-7 with a 3.33 ERA in 30 appearances, 28 of those outings coming as a starter. He has struck out 96 batters and walked 30 in 132 1/3 innings in the Yankees system. The righty missed the 2016 season with a back injury.
Vargas will take Nelson's place in the rotation and make his first appearance with the RiverDogs on Sunday against Lexington.
RiverDogs single-game tickets, including options to the Riley Park Club, are now available for the 2018 campaign, the club's 25^th season as the RiverDogs and their "175^th season in dog years." Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com/tickets.
--RIVERDOGS--