Nelson Velázquez

Nelson Javier Velázquez (born December 26, 1998) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Nelson Velázquez
Velázquez with the South Bend Cubs in 2021
Chicago Cubs – No. 4
Outfielder
Born: (1998-12-26) December 26, 1998
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 30, 2022, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through April 28, 2023)
Batting average.223
Home runs9
Runs batted in32
Teams

Career

The Chicago Cubs selected Velázquez in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB draft.[1] He made his professional debut that year, playing in the rookie-level Arizona League.[2] In 2018, he split time at the Class A Short Season and Class A levels, batting .231 overall for the season; in 103 games, he had 11 home runs and 40 RBIs.[2] In 2019, he mainly played at the Class 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 professionally during 2020, as the minor-league season was cancelled. In 2021, he played 69 games for the South Bend Cubs, a High-A team, and 34 games for the Tennessee Smokies, a Double-A team.[2] Overall, he batted .270 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs 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.[3][4]

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.[5] On July 4, Velázquez hit his first career home run off of Eric Lauer of the Milwaukee Brewers.[6] 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.[7] He was recalled back to the Majors, on April 10.[8] 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.[9]

References
  1. "Nelson Velazque Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  2. "Nelson Velazquez Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  3. Boor, William (November 20, 2021). "Cubs' Velazquez wins AFL MVP Award". Mlb.com. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  4. Bastian, Jordan (November 19, 2021). "Fall League star Velazquez added to 40-man". Mlb.com. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  5. Bastian, Jordan (May 30, 2022). "'He's my bestie': Morel, Velázquez share a baseball brotherhood". MLB.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  6. "Cubs Nelson Velázquez hits first career HR". nbcsports.com. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  7. "Cubs' Nelson Velazquez: Optioned to Triple-A level". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  8. https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/why-the-cubs-opted-to-recall-outfielder-nelson-velazquez/
  9. https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2023/4/11/23679739/nelson-velazquezs-first-career-grand-slam-powers-cubs-to-comeback-win-vs-mariners
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