Wikipedia

Nelson Velázquez

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

Nelson Velázquez
Velázquez with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2025
Free agent
Outfielder / Designated hitter
Born: (1998-12-26) December 26, 1998 (age 26)
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 30, 2022, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.212
Home runs31
Runs batted in87
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Career

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Chicago Cubs

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The Chicago Cubs drafted Velázquez in the fifth round, with the 165th overall selection, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He made his professional debut that year, playing with the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs.[2] 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.[2] In 2019, he mainly played at the Single-A level, where he batted .286 with four home runs and 34 RBIs in 72 games.[2] He then played in the Puerto Rican Winter League in the 2019–20 offseason.[2]

Velázquez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league seasom because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] 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.[2] Overall, Velázquez batted .270 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI in 103 game; he also stole 17 bases.[2] 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.[2] 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.[4][5]

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.[6] On July 4, Velázquez hit his first career home run off of Eric Lauer of the Milwaukee Brewers.[7] 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.[8] He was recalled back to the Majors, on April 10.[9] 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.[10] Velazquez was optioned back to Triple-A Iowa on May 8.[11]

Kansas City Royals

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On July 31, 2023, the Cubs traded Velázquez to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for José Cuas.[12] Velázquez was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers to begin his tenure with the club. 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.[13] In 40 games for the Royals, he batted .233/.299/.579 with 14 home runs and 28 RBI.[14]

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.[15] On March 23, 2025, Velázquez was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Omaha.[16] In 33 appearances for the Storm Chasers, he slashed .202/.298/.377 with six home runs, 14 RBI, and four stolen bases. Velázquez was released by the Royals organization on May 28.[17]

Guerreros de Oaxaca

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On June 4, 2025, Velázquez signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.[18] In 49 appearances for Oaxaca, Velázquez batted .357/.444/.658 with 15 home runs, 57 RBI, and four stolen bases.

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On September 1, 2025, Velázquez signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.[19] He made 18 appearances for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, batting .284/.329/.554 with five home runs, 17 RBI, and one stolen base. Velázquez elected free agency following the season on November 6.[20]

International career

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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.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Nelson Velazque Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Nelson Velazquez Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  4. ^ Boor, William (November 20, 2021). "Cubs' Velazquez wins AFL MVP Award". Mlb.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Bastian, Jordan (November 19, 2021). "Fall League star Velazquez added to 40-man". Mlb.com. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  6. ^ Bastian, Jordan (May 30, 2022). "'He's my bestie': Morel, Velázquez share a baseball brotherhood". MLB.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  7. ^ "Cubs Nelson Velázquez hits first career HR". nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "Cubs' Nelson Velazquez: Optioned to Triple-A level". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Why the Cubs opted to recall outfielder Nelson Velázquez | Chicago Cubs News". April 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "Nelson Velazquez's first career grand slam powers Cubs to comeback win vs. Mariners". April 12, 2023.
  11. ^ "Nelson Velázquez Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "Royals add OF Velázquez in trade with Cubs". MLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Recalled from Triple-A". CBSSports.com. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "Nelson Velazquez 2023 batting Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "Nelson Velazquez 2024 batting Stats Per Game". espn.com. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  16. ^ "Royals Outright Nick Pratto, Nelson Velazquez; Phillies Claim Carlos Hernandez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  17. ^ "Royals Release Nelson Velazquez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  18. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 4 de junio de 2025". lmb.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  19. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com. September 1, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  20. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2025". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  21. ^ "Así quedó el Equipo Todos Estrellas de la Serie del Caribe 2024". MLB.com (in Spanish). Retrieved February 17, 2024.
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