PORT CHARLOTTE - He doesn't want to waste a second. He beats most everyone to the park. Joe Nelson learned at his first training camp, in 1996. The then-Atlanta Braves prospect overslept twice.

"First time, they told me, OK, it happens," Nelson said "The second time, they said, Joe, you're a fourth-round pick, we expect better. You better not ever, ever be late to the fields again. I haven't come close since."

Joe Nelson is the Rays' new 34-year-old bullpen phenom. OK, you're not a phenom when you're 34, but Nelson's story, at least, is phenomenal. How do you and your right arm make it big in the majors after 12 years and four major arm surgeries, after all those years in the minors, after all those people told you to give up?

But Nelson made it last season with the Florida Marlins . In 2008, his 2.00 ERA was third among National League relievers. He was a workhorse, brutal on righties and lefties alike with a nasty change complete with a unique grip, the ball placed between Nelson's middle and ring fingers for a forkball fade. Nelson calls it the "Vulcan" because the finger spread looks like Spock's "Live long and prosper" in "Star Trek."

"He should be able to beam us up at some point," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

It took a dozen years before Nelson prospered in the big leagues, with brief stops in Atlanta, Boston and Kansas City, but most of it in the minors (including 2005 for the Rays in Triple-A Durham) or doctors' offices. It took everything Joe Nelson had.

"I don't think I'd trade the journey that I've had and the people that I've met," he said. "It almost feels more gratifying now because I know how hard it's been. Every guy would love to be B.J. [Upton] and Evan [Longoria], to get to the big leagues at a young age and be a superstar, but there are only a few guys who can do that. I wouldn't trade anything."

Even those surgeries, including a Tommy John turn, that wiped out entire seasons. They wiped out everything in Joe Nelson but hope. How many surgeries? So many that Nelson met his wife, Teresa Cortinas, at one of them. It's a story as old as time. Boy meets girl. Boy has blown-out elbow. Girl is radiologist. The couple has three young children.

"Best injury I ever had," Nelson said.

He wants the ball. There's no time to waste.

"He appreciates everything," Maddon said. "? There's a definite sense of gratitude when he talks about being here."

Nelson has thrown only 103 major-league innings. His first taste came in 2001 with the Braves. He threw two innings to an ERA of 36.00. Back to the minors. He next pitched in the majors for Boston, five years later. He threw two more innings for a 16.88 ERA. Back to the minors.

Plenty of people told him to find a new career. His wife told him to follow his dream. He kept pitching. In 2006, across four different call-ups with the Royals, he had nine saves and a 4.43 ERA. Then: more surgery. He missed 2007. When he asked the Marlins about a job before last season, Florida assumed he meant as a scout. But, no.

So here's Joe Nelson, with a one-year, $1.3 million free-agent deal. Here he is, bright and early every morning, grateful and ready to work. Here he is, with his simple advice for young teammates.

"When you play, smile."

Photo: Joe Nelson

Chased goal despite string of injuries

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