Nester produced a tremendous 2019 season for the Railroaders, earning Midseason and Postseason All-Star nods. The veteran backstop hit .277 with 23 doubles, 16 home runs, and 63 RBI, establishing new career highs in each of the latter three categories. Nester finished the year with a .277/.342/.505 slash line, good for an .847 OPS that led all American Association catchers. The native of Greer, South Carolina, finished the season tied for the tenth in the American Association by accumulating 5.5 Wins Above Replacement.
The Railroaders traded Nester to the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League on September 12, then re-acquired him on October 28. Nester played eight games for the Rockers, recording four hits, including a double and a home run.
Nester started his professional career with three seasons in the Oakland Athletics organization after being drafted in the 39th round out of Clemson. The 30-year old was released following the 2012 season, and spent the following year with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. After an impressive campaign in which he hit .287, Nester was snapped up by the San Diego Padres organization, where he split the 2014 season between three minor league levels. He signed with Wichita in 2015, helping the Wingnuts to a 59-41 record and a South Division title. The 6'1, 210-pounder played in 80 games, hitting .281 with five home runs, 19 doubles, and 43 RBI.
The 2018 campaign marked Nester's first playing time since 2015, as he spent the 2016 and 2017 season as a catching instructor in the San Diego Padres minor league system. Nester spent the majority of 2018 with Wichita, hitting .269 with seven home runs and 50 RBI over 92 games for the American Association club. The backstop finished the year with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League, appearing in five games and recording four hits.