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Top Nelson Velazquez News
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: Reassigned to Triple-A
The Cardinals reassigned Velazquez to Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
A non-roster invitee this spring, Velazquez put himself in position for a major-league roster spot by hitting .357/.449/.667 with four home runs and a 7:4 BB:K during Grapefruit League play. However, the Cardinals ultimately decided to send the 27-year-old to Memphis to start the season. Velazquez could still get a look with the big club if he gets off to a hot start in the minors, though that could depend on how quickly Lars Nootbaar (heels) makes it back.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: Continues push for roster spot
Velazquez clubbed a two-run home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.
Velazquez took Sean Manaea deep to the opposite field in the bottom of the first inning for his third home run of the spring. The three long balls tie him for the team lead, and he also boasts a 5:2 BB:K. The lack of a 40-man roster spot works against him, but Velazquez is making a real push for starts in left field for the Cardinals early in the season while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is sidelined.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: In mix for reps in left field
Velazquez is among the competitors for playing time in left field for the Cardinals while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is sidelined, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar is expected to get a late start to the season as he continues his recovery from surgery on both heels. In camp as a non-roster invitee, Velazquez entered play Sunday having gone 5-for-17 with one home run, one double and a 2:1 BB:K over his first six Grapefruit League contests. The Cardinals' lineup leans lefty-heavy, which helps Velazquez's case as a right-handed hitter, but working against him is that he's the only one in the mix that's not already on the 40-man roster. Nathan Church, Jose Fermin and Thomas Saggese are also competing for reps in left field.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: Gets NRI from St. Louis
The Cardinals signed Velazquez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Velazquez split the 2025 season between the Triple-A level in the Royals and Pirates organizations and also spent time in the Mexican League. The 27-year-old has cranked 31 home runs in 615 plate appearances at the major-league level, but that's come with just a .212/.286/.433 career batting line and 28.8 percent strikeout rate. The Cardinals have been looking for a right-handed-hitting reserve outfielder, which gives Velazquez a chance to make the team even if the odds aren't high.
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Nelson Velazquez: Cut by Royals
The Royals released Velazquez on Wednesday.
Velazquez has been in the minors all season but will now enter the open market after slashing .202/.298/.377 across 131 plate appearances at Triple-A Omaha. The 26-year-old owns a career .719 OPS in the majors and should still be able to latch on with another club on a minor-league deal.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Outrighted to Triple-A
Velazquez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Velazquez posted a .595 OPS over 29 plate appearances during spring training, so Kansas City won't keep him on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old clubbed 14 homers in just 40 games for the Royals in 2023 but delivered a .200/.274/.366 slash line in 64 regular-season contests last year.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Back in action Friday
Velazquez (calf) is starting in right field and batting cleanup in Friday's spring game against the Angels.
Velazquez departed Wednesday's contest due to calf cramps but is ready to rejoin the lineup after a day off. The 26-year-old hasn't put himself in a strong position to earn a place on the Opening Day roster, as he's gone 2-for-16 through eight spring games.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Dealing with calf cramps
Velazquez exited Wednesday's Cactus League game versus the Mariners due to a calf cramp, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Manager Matt Quatraro didn't seem too concerned with Velazquez's injury while relaying the diagnosis after the game, so the 26-year-old outfielder isn't likely to miss much time. He's had a tough time at the plate this spring, going 2-for-16 with two runs scored over eight games.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Makes early exit Wednesday
Velazquez was removed from Wednesday's Cactus League game against Seattle due to an apparent injury, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Velazquez suffered the injury while fielding a ball near the outfield wall, though it's not immediately apparent what he's dealing with. Kansas City will take a closer look at him and should provide some clarity on his status soon.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Sent back to Triple-A
The Royals optioned Velazquez to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
Velazquez was hitting just .122/.240/.171 in June and had seen his playing time dry up, so the Royals have elected to send him down to the minors with the hope that he can get on track at the plate. Expect Freddy Fermin to continue seeing an uptick in playing time with Velazquez now at Omaha.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Back in lineup Sunday
Velazquez will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh in Sunday's series finale against the Rangers.
Velazquez was originally slated to sit for the fourth consecutive game Sunday, but he was inserted into the lineup after Adam Frazier was scratched due to a right thumb sprain he sustained in Saturday's 6-0 loss. Velazquez will look to take advantage of the opportunity as he faces off against the returning Max Scherzer on Sunday.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Sitting again Saturday
Velazquez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Texas.
Velazquez will be out of the lineup Saturday for the third straight game. The lefty-hitting Vinnie Pasquantino will serve as the designated hitter and bat third against Rangers right-hander Jon Gray.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Absent from lineup again
Velazquez is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Rangers.
The hot-hitting Freddy Fermin will make a second straight start at designated hitter. Velazquez has just a .401 OPS so far in June and has now been absent from the starting lineup for seven of 18 games this month.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Not starting Sunday
Velazquez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
This marks the second absence in three days for Velazquez, who has struggled to a .129/.256/.194 slash line so far this month. His overall OPS is down more than 200 points from a year ago. He could see his playing time squeezed further in the short term due to Salvador Perez needing time at designated hitter to combat a knee injury.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Getting breather Friday
Velazquez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.
After starting in each of the Royals last four games, Velazquez will get the day off Friday. Adam Frazier will DH and bat fifth while Drew Waters handles right field and bats eighth.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Out of lineup Sunday
Velazquez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Mariners.
Velazquez will get a breather Sunday after going 1-for-7 with two RBI and two walks over the first two games of the series. Salvador Perez will serve as the designated hitter Sunday, while Freddy Fermin starts behind home plate.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Nabs rare steal
Velazquez went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Mariners.
Velazquez has gone just 2-for-15 with three walks over five games in June. The outfielder was able to make a rare impact with his legs Saturday, picking up his second steal of the campaign. His power started to come around in late May but has vanished again in June, and he's at a middling .212/.283/.402 slash line with eight home runs, 25 RBI and 29 runs scored through 198 plate appearances this season.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Exiting starting nine Thursday
Velazquez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians.
With Hunter Renfroe occupying right field and Salvador Perez getting a day off from catching and serving as the Royals' designated hitter, Velazquez's primary two avenues to playing time are closed off Thursday. Velazquez still looks to be a near-everyday player for Kansas City, as he had started in 11 of the team's previous 12 games.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Taking seat Sunday
Velazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
Velazquez will get a day off in the series finale after he had started in each of Kansas City's last 10 games. Salvador Perez will get a break from catching duties and will serve as the Royals' designated hitter while Velazquez sits.
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Royals' Nelson Velazquez: Goes yard Friday
Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Friday's 11-8 loss to the Padres.
That's now five homers over Velazquez's last nine games. He was nearly the hero in the Royals' ninth-inning rally, which started with his solo shot and ended on a deep flyout to left-center field. The outfielder is slashing .220/.283/.415 with eight homers, 21 RBI, 25 runs scored and a stolen base over 49 contests, though he slugged .475 in May with a welcome return of the impactful power he showed in the second half of 2023.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-0, 190 lbs |
| Birthplace: Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Age: 27 |
| Experience: 3 |
| Bats/Throws: R, R |