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Astros' Nelson Velazquez: Claimed off waivers by Houston
Rotowire
The Astros claimed Velazquez off waivers from the Cardinals on Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Velazquez had been booted off the Cardinals' 40-man roster this past weekend after slashing .216/.289/.432 with four home runs over 83 plate appearances. The 27-year-old is a candidate to get some starts in the outfield against left-handed pitching.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: DFA'd by Cardinals
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The Cardinals designated Velazquez for assignment Saturday.
Velazquez will be jettisoned off the 40-man roster to free up space for Everson Pereira, who was claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Friday. Velazquez could draw attention from other teams on waivers after slashing .216/.289/.432 over 83 plate appearances with St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: Set to depart roster
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The Cardinals are expected to designate Velazquez for assignment Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The Cardinals need to free up a spot on the active roster after claiming Everson Pereira off waivers from the White Sox on Thursday, and Velazquez seems to be in line to become the odd man out. The 27-year-old has put up a .721 OPS in 83 major-league plate appearances this season, so he could draw interest from other clubs browsing the waiver wire for outfield depth.
Velazquez went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Atlanta.
Velazquez put the Cardinals on the board with a solo homer off Martin Perez in the fourth inning. It was his third homer of the year. Since being recalled May 29, the slugger is batting .316 (12-for-38) while starting almost exclusively against southpaws. He is unlikely to earn everyday at-bats, but the Cardinals should continue rotating him into the lineup in place of Alec Burleson, Lars Nootbaar or Nathan Church whenever they face a left-handed starter.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: Homers in season debut
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Velazquez went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 6-5 win over the Cubs. He was also hit by a pitch.
Velazquez hit cleanup in his 2026 debut and launched a three-run blast off Shota Imanaga in his first at-bat. The 27-year-old slashed .232/.344/.420 with seven homers, 22 RBI, 21 runs scored and four steals across 163 plate appearances at Triple-A Memphis, but he'd been swinging a hot bat prior to his promotion and appears to have the confidence of manager Oliver Marmol against left-handed pitching.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: Contract selected
Rotowire
The Cardinals selected Velazquez's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Velazquez nearly won an Opening Day roster spot with a big spring but then got off to a slow start at Memphis. However, the 27-year-old earned a promotion after slashing .308/.418/.600 with five home runs for Memphis in May. The right-handed slugger is starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga on Friday.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: Reassigned to Triple-A
Rotowire
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
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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
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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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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