Nelson Velázquez

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Nelson Velázquez

|image = Nelson Velazquez 1 (51227286832) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Velázquez with the South Bend Cubs in 2021

|team = Kansas City Royals

|number =

|position = Outfielder / Designated hitter

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|12|26}}

|birth_place = Carolina, Puerto Rico

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 30

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = Chicago Cubs

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2024 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .212

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 31

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 87

|teams =

Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2022}}–{{mlby|2023}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})

}}

Nelson Javier Velázquez (born December 26, 1998) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter in the Kansas City Royals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs.

Career

=Chicago Cubs=

The Chicago Cubs drafted Velázquez in the fifth round, with the 165th overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/player/nelson-velazquez-676369 |title=Nelson Velazque Stats, Fantasy & News |website=MiLB.com |access-date=November 20, 2021}} He made his professional debut that year, playing with the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs. In 2018, Velázquez split time with the Low-A Eugene Emeralds and Single-A South Bend Cubs, batting .231 overall for the season; in 103 games, he had 11 home runs and 40 RBI. In 2019, he mainly played at the Single-A level, where he batted .286 with four home runs and 34 RBIs in 72 games. He then played in the Puerto Rican Winter League in the 2019–20 offseason.

Velázquez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league seasom because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=April 16, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}} In 2021, he played 69 games for the South Bend Cubs, a High-A affiliate, and 34 games for the Tennessee Smokies, a Double-A affiliate. Overall, Velázquez batted .270 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI in 103 game; he also stole 17 bases. After the regular season, he played for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League where he batted .366 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs in 26 games.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=velazq000nel |title=Nelson Velazquez Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=November 20, 2021}} Velázquez was named MVP of the 2021 Arizona Fall League season, and was also added to the Cubs' 40-man roster following the 2021 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nelson-velazquez-wins-arizona-fall-league-mvp-award |title=Cubs' Velazquez wins AFL MVP Award |first=William |last=Boor|website=Mlb.com |date=November 20, 2021 |access-date=November 20, 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nelson-velazquez-ethan-roberts-added-to-cubs-40-man-roster |title=Fall League star Velazquez added to 40-man |first=Jordan |last=Bastian|website=Mlb.com |date=November 19, 2021 |access-date=December 3, 2021}}

Velázquez reached the Triple-A level in 2022 with the Iowa Cubs, and was added to Chicago's active roster prior to a doubleheader on May 30. He made his major-league debut the same day, collecting a hit in his first MLB at bat.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/nelson-velazquez-records-hit-in-cubs-debut |title='He's my bestie': Morel, Velázquez share a baseball brotherhood |first=Jordan |last=Bastian |website=MLB.com |date=May 30, 2022 |accessdate=May 30, 2022}} On July 4, Velázquez hit his first career home run off of Eric Lauer of the Milwaukee Brewers.{{Cite web|title=Cubs Nelson Velázquez hits first career HR|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-nelson-velazquez-hits-first-career-home-run-vs-brewers?amp|access-date=2023-05-15|website=nbcsports.com|language=en}} He played in 77 games for the Cubs in his rookie campaign, hitting .205/.286/.373 with 6 home runs, 26 RBI, and 5 stolen bases.

Velázquez was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2023 season.{{Cite web|title=Cubs' Nelson Velazquez: Optioned to Triple-A level|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cubs-nelson-velazquez-optioned-to-triple-a-level/amp/|access-date=2023-03-23|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He was recalled back to the Majors, on April 10.{{cite web | url=https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/why-the-cubs-opted-to-recall-outfielder-nelson-velazquez/ | title=Why the Cubs opted to recall outfielder Nelson Velázquez | Chicago Cubs News | date=11 April 2023 }} The following day, he hit his first career grand slam, to give the Cubs an 8-7 lead against the Seattle Mariners, after they were previously down 7-0.{{cite web | url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2023/4/11/23679739/nelson-velazquezs-first-career-grand-slam-powers-cubs-to-comeback-win-vs-mariners | title=Nelson Velazquez's first career grand slam powers Cubs to comeback win vs. Mariners | date=12 April 2023 }} Velazquez was optioned back to Triple-A Iowa on May 8.{{Cite web |title=Nelson Velázquez Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/royals/player/nelson-velazquez-676369 |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

=Kansas City Royals=

On July 31, 2023, the Cubs traded Velázquez to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for José Cuas.{{Cite web |title=Royals add OF Velázquez in trade with Cubs |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nelson-velazquez-traded-to-royals-for-jose-cuas |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Velázquez was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin his time with the Royals. On August 10, Velázquez was called up to make his Royals debut, hitting a home run in his first plate appearance the next day. Velázquez hit a home run the following day in his second career game for Kansas City, making him 3-for-8 with two home runs and three RBI in his first two games with the team.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-10 |title=Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Recalled from Triple-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-nelson-velazquez-recalled-from-triple-a/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} In 40 games for the Royals, he batted .233/.299/.579 with 14 home runs and 28 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Nelson Velazquez 2023 batting Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/41047/year/2023/category/batting|access-date=April 16, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}

Velázquez made 64 appearances for Kansas City during the 2024 campaign, slashing .200/.274/.366 with eight home runs, 27 RBI, and two stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Nelson Velazquez 2024 batting Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/41047/year/2024/category/batting|access-date=April 16, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}} On March 23, 2025, Velázquez was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Omaha.{{Cite web|title=Royals Outright Nick Pratto, Nelson Velazquez; Phillies Claim Carlos Hernandez|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/royals-outright-nick-pratto-nelson-velazquez-phillies-claim-carlos-hernandez.html|access-date=March 23, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

International career

Velázquez was named to the All-Tournament team for the 2024 Caribbean Series while playing winter league baseball for the Criollos de Caguas of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.{{cite web |title=Así quedó el Equipo Todos Estrellas de la Serie del Caribe 2024 |url=https://www.mlb.com/es/news/asi-quedo-el-equipo-todos-estrellas-de-la-serie-del-caribe-2024 |website=MLB.com |access-date=17 February 2024 |language=es}}