Nelson Velázquez
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2023Neon24221101010000.5000.5001.500
2024Neon25841220221099200000.2380.3120.571
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Mar 23 2025Velazquez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Mar 14 2025Velazquez (calf) is starting in right field and batting cleanup in Friday's spring game against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Mar 12 2025Velazquez exited Wednesday's Cactus League game versus the Mariners due to a calf cramp, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Matt Quatraro didn't seem too concerned with Velazquez's injury while relaying his 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.
Jun 24 2024The Royals optioned Velazquez to Triple-A Omaha on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 23 2024Velazquez will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh in Sunday's series finale against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 22 2024Velazquez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 21 2024Velazquez is not in the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 lineup for seven of 18 games this month.
Jun 16 2024Velazquez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 14 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 fills in at right field and bats eighth.
Jun 9 2024Velazquez is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 8 2024Velazquez went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 6 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 2 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jun 1 2024Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Friday's 11-8 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 29 2024Velazquez went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez looks to be regaining his power swing with four homers over his last seven contests. He's still lacking in overall consistency at the plate -- he was hitless in his previous three games before his strong effort Wednesday. The 25-year-old is up to seven long balls on the year while adding 19 RBI, 24 runs scored, one stolen base and a .224/.292/.410 slash line over 47 contests. Velazquez is seeing steady playing time between the corner outfield spots and designated hitter.
May 25 2024Velazquez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI double and two total runs scored in Saturday's 7-4 extra-innings win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez has gone 12-for-39 (.308) with three homers and eight RBI over his last 11 games. The outfielder opened the scoring with a second-inning blast off Aaron Civale and added the go-ahead RBI in the 11th. Velazquez's power has been slow to show in 2024, but he looks to be going in the right direction for now. Overall, he's at .232/.301/.394 slash line with five homers, 16 RBI, 22 runs scored and one stolen base through 156 plate appearances.
May 22 2024Velazquez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and two total runs scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez had sat out the previous two games, suggesting he could be losing some playing time versus right-handed pitchers. He looked solid against Tigers lefty ace Tarik Skubal, taking him deep in the fourth inning. Velazquez is barring a meager .224 (11-for-49) in May, but he's hit two homers and driven in five runs over his last five games. The outfielder is slashing .226/.295/.368 with four homers, 13 RBI, 20 runs scored, one stolen base and seven doubles over 146 plate appearances this season. He's struggled to consistently tap into power as he did with 17 homers over 53 games a year ago, so it's possible Velazquez could continue to lose playing time to Adam Frazier or Freddy Fermin if he can't turn things around.
May 21 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez will sit for a second straight game, leaving DH duties to Adam Frazier on Tuesday. Since May 10, Velazquez is 8-for-28 (.286) with a three-run home run.
May 20 2024Velazquez is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez had started seven of the last eight contests but will begin this one on the bench. Salvador Perez will be the designated hitter, Hunter Renfroe will start in right field and Freddy Fermin will be at catcher.
May 15 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez hasn't fully regained an everyday role yet, but he started each of the last four games (two against right-handers, two against left-handers) and is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak in which he's slashed .375/.412/.625. Even so, Velazquez will find himself as the odd man out of the lineup Wednesday while the Royals give Salvador Perez a day off behind the plate while keeping his bat in the starting nine at DH.
May 14 2024Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mariners starter Logan Gilbert was excellent until the seventh inning, and Velazquez made him pay. The homer was Velazquez's third of the year and his first since April 4. He went just 5-for-55 over a 19-game span from April 14 to May 9, but Velazquez now has a five-game hitting streak. During the streak, he's 6-for-16 (.375). Overall, he's at a .227/.292/.361 slash line with 11 RBI, 18 runs scored and a stolen base over 37 contests. With fellow corner outfielders MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe hitting .183 and .159, respectively, there's room for Velazquez to challenge them if manager Matt Quatraro opts for other players at designated hitter.
May 6 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the second straight day on the bench for Velazquez, who is in a 2-for-32 tailspin at the plate. He served as a pinch-hitter in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Rangers and will be available off the bench Monday. Adam Frazier will serve as the Royals' designated hitter, and Kansas City could continue to rotate a number of players at that spot in the lineup while Velazquez has seemingly lost hold of an everyday role.
May 5 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a double and a run Saturday but still has just two hits over his past 11 games. Salvador Perez is resting his legs at designated hitter Sunday while Freddy Fermin starts behind the plate.
May 3 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez has been less and less of an everyday option for the Royals as the team continues to trot out lineups with Salvador Perez as first, Vinnie Pasquantino at DH and Freddy Fermin behind the dish. Velazquez hasn't done much to warrant an everyday role after starting the season red-hot, with just one hit in his last 27 at-bats.
Apr 30 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run Sunday, which broke a streak of 20 straight hitless at-bats. Vinnie Pasquantino will serve as the designated hitter while Salvador Perez (back) mans first base.
Apr 27 2024Velazquez is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez will begin Saturday's game on the bench with the Tigers sending out right-hander Casey Mize. Velazquez is hitless over his last six games and has reached base twice on walks over that span. Lefty-hitting Adam Frazier will start at DH and bat fifth in the lineup Saturday.
Apr 25 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Royals looking to give Vinnie Pasquantino a day out of the field and Salvador Perez a day off behind the plate in the series finale, Velazquez will be a casualty from the Kansas City lineup. Pasquantino will serve as the Royals' designated hitter in Velazquez's stead, while Perez takes over Pasquantino's usual spot at first base.
Apr 23 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez is 2-for-21 in his past seven games and will head to the bench for the second time in Kansas City's past three contests. Adam Frazier is batting sixth as the designated hitter Tuesday.
Apr 17 2024Velazquez is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a double and a run in Game 1, but he'll take a seat in the nightcap after making 12 straight starts. Salvador Perez will serve as the designated hitter while Freddy Fermin starts behind the plate.
Apr 14 2024Velazquez went 2-for-5 with one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 11-7 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez was one of six Royals to log multiple hits Saturday. He's known for his power more than his speed -- this was his first steal and attempt since 2022. He's earned a significant role early in 2024, slashing .333/.385/.521 with two home runs, seven RBI, eight runs scored and three doubles over 13 contests as the Royals' primary designated hitter.
Apr 4 2024Velazquez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional RBI, a walk and two runs scored in Thursday's 10-1 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez provided the Royals' early offense with an RBI single in the second inning and a solo shot in the fourth. The 25-year-old has some interesting power -- he's already swatted two homers through five games this season after hitting 17 in 53 contests a year ago. Velazquez is batting .294 with a 2:7 BB:K, three RBI and four runs scored over 19 plate appearances. The Royals are making sure he's not a full-time player against right-handed pitchers early on, though he could force his way to that kind of role if he continues to hit well.
Apr 3 2024Velazquez is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With ace right-hander Corbin Burnes toeing the slab for the Orioles, it's not a bad time for the Royals to give the right-handed-hitting Velazquez a day off. Vinnie Pasquantino will serve as the designated hitter Wednesday, while Salvador Perez will cover first base and Freddy Fermin will handle catching duties.
Mar 31 2024Velazquez went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's 11-0 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez singled in the first inning and walked and scored in the second frame before launching a solo homer off of reliever Cole Sands in the bottom of the sixth. The outfielder was making only his second start of the season, but if he can keep producing like he did Sunday, he'll see an uptick in playing time as the season goes on.
Mar 30 2024Velazquez is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez got the start at DH for the season opener Thursday, finishing 0-for-3 with one strikeout. Nick Loftin will be the designated hitter for the Royals on Saturday and bat eighth against Twins right-hander Joe Ryan.
Mar 2 2024Velazquez is penciled in as the Royals' designated hitter, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez mashed when he came to the Royals from the Cubs last season, but it remains to be seen if he can do it over a full season. The power is real, but his 28.5 percent strikeout rate is a concern. With Salvador Perez also getting up there in age -- he'll be 34 for much of the season -- the longtime catcher could see more games as the DH, which likely would leave Velazquez on the bench against some right-handers.
Oct 1 2023Velazquez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez hit .244 with nine home runs, 17 runs and 20 RBI over 23 games in a huge month of September. It would seem that he played well enough down the stretch to enter 2024 as a regular in the middle of the Royals' lineup.
Sep 28 2023Velazquez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a routine day off for Velazquez, who had started each of the previous 11 contests for the Royals. Drew Waters will occupy right field Thursday while Edward Olivares serves as the designated hitter.
Sep 24 2023Velazquez went 2-for-3 with two solo homers in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez tallied the first Royals run of the game with his 380-foot homer off Hunter Brown in the second inning. He wasn't done for the day, as he returned and cranked a 396-foot solo shot the next inning, again off Brown. Velazquez has been on a torrid power tear lately, hitting five home runs over the past nine games. The former Cub is slashing .239/.313/.632 with 14 homers, 25 runs and 27 RBI over 36 games since joining the Royals.
Sep 20 2023Velazquez went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez's first-inning blast was all the Royals needed to earn the win. The outfielder has gone a modest 15-for-55 (.273) in September, but seven of his hits have left the yard. He's up to 15 homers, 31 RBI, 30 runs scored, six doubles and no stolen bases while slashing .244/.313/.622 over 46 contests between the Royals and the Cubs this season. The 24-year-old outfielder's power has helped him early fairly steady playing time over the last month.
Sep 18 2023Velazquez went 1-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 6-4 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez launched a 425-foot solo home run off Cal Quantrill in the sixth inning to chase the Guardians' starter from the game. The 24-year-old has been a steady source of power since arriving from the Cubs at the trade deadline. Velazquez has hit .235/.303/.602 with 11 homers, 21 RBI and 20 runs in 31 games with the Royals.
Sep 16 2023Velazquez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 4-2 win over the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's not seeing a full-time role in September, but Velazquez has made the most of his playing time with five homers over his last 11 games. He's hitting .289 this month, which has gotten him up to a .246/.305/.619 slash line with 13 homers, 24 RBI, 25 runs scored and five doubles over 41 games between the Royals and Cubs. Velazquez should continue to see a bit more than a typical platoon role while filling in at designated hitter and the corner outfield spots.
Sep 13 2023Velazquez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez has a 1.028 through 10 games in September but will sit Wednesday for the third time in Kansas City's past five contests. Edward Olivares is serving as the designated hitter and has earned a larger share of playing time with four home runs, three doubles and 10 RBI since being called up by the Royals when rosters expanded Sept. 1.
Sep 12 2023Velazquez isn't in the Royals' lineup for Tuesday's nightcap against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Game 1 of Tuesday's twin bill, and he'll get a chance to rest while Dairon Blanco starts in right field with Salvador Perez operating as the Royals' DH.
Sep 10 2023Velazquez is absent from the lineup Sunday at Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This looks to be a routine day of rest for Velazquez, who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Saturday's loss to the Blue Jays but still boasts a .916 OPS across his first 87 plate appearances with Kansas City. Edward Olivares is filling the DH role Sunday as Drew Waters patrols right field.
Sep 6 2023Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Velazquez's third straight game with a homer, and he's already gone deep four times over six contests in September. The outfielder is 8-for-24 (.333) this month, which has helped him become a near-everyday player in the Royals' lineup. For the year, he's batting .250 and slugging .644 with 12 homers and 23 RBI over 36 games between the Royals and the Cubs.
Sep 5 2023Velazquez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez already has three homers in September, which comes after he hit five long balls in his first 17 games with the Royals. The outfielder's power has helped him earn consistent playing time since he was traded from the Cubs. For the season, the 24-year-old has a .250/.306/.630 slash line with 11 homers, 21 RBI, 23 runs scored and five doubles over 108 plate appearances.
Sep 4 2023Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored in Monday's 12-1 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez hit a ball 419 feet for his tenth homer (sixth with the Royals) of the season in the fourth inning. The 24-year-old drew his tenth straight start and appears to be gaining the trust of manager Matt Quatraro. Velazquez has hit .250 with three homers, nine RBI and six runs in 36 plate appearances over that 10-game span.
Sep 1 2023Velazquez went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double and two runs scored in Friday's win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez capped off a six-run sixth inning and 13-run game by Kansas City with his ninth homer of the year. He entered Friday in a 3-for-28 skid with just one home run during that span. The 24-year-old now has 13 extra-base hits to go along with an .886 OPS through 91 plate appearances.
Aug 27 2023Velazquez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez started his Royals career hot, but he had gone 1-for-16 across his previous six games. His homer Sunday prevented Kansas City from getting shut out. For the year, he has eight long balls, 14 RBI, 17 runs scored and two doubles while batting .239 with an .886 OPS over 75 plate appearances. He should see plenty of playing time against left-handed pitchers, but he has not been exclusively limited to a short-side platoon role with the Royals so far.
Aug 23 2023Velazquez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez appears to have inherited the role that Edward Olivares had occupied for Kansas City before being optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Aug. 13. Though the righty-hitting Velazquez should play regularly versus southpaws, he'll be more of a part-time option against right-handed pitching. He'll sit for the second time in three games while the Athletics bring righty Adrian Martinez to the hill for the series finale.
Aug 19 2023Velazquez will sit Saturday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez went 0-for-3 in the series opener against his former team Friday and won't get a second chance against the team that dealt him for reliever Jose Cuas at the deadline just yet. Dairon Blanco will start in right field.
Aug 18 2023Velazquez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez is finding a groove with the Royals with three multi-hit efforts and four homes over his last six games. The 24-year-old outfielder is seeing time between right field and designated hitter, putting some pressure on Drew Waters and Matt Beaty for playing time. Velazquez is batting .288 with seven homers, 11 RBI, 14 runs scored and two doubles over 55 plate appearances between the Cubs and the Royals this season.
Aug 16 2023Velazquez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez has gone deep in three of his last five games, matching his homer total from 13 games with the Cubs earlier in the campaign. The outfielder looks set to stay in the majors for a while following the demotion of Edward Olivares to Triple-A Omaha. Velazquez is slashing .271/.314/.688 with 10 RBI, 12 runs scored and two doubles through 51 plate appearances this season.
Aug 15 2023Velazquez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez was called up by Kansas City on Thursday and started the past three games, going 4-for-12 with two homers and three RBI. He could see semi-regular playing time going forward following the demotion of Edward Olivares, who leads the club in starts at designated hitter this season.
Aug 12 2023Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Saturday's loss against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez tagged Steven Matz for a two-run home run in the third inning that plated Kyle Isbel. He's now homered in back-to-back games and is hitting 3-for-8 (.375) with a solo home run and a two-run home run since being called up by the Royals.
Aug 10 2023The Royals recalled Velazquez from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez will suit up in a Royals uniform for the first time on Thursday with a spot on the bench. He was traded from the Cubs on July 31 where the 24-year-old had a .934 OPS through 32 plate appearances. In his six games in Triple-A Omaha, the outfielder tallied one hit in 22 at bats.
May 8 2023The Cubs optioned Velazquez to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez has posted a .933 OPS with three home runs in 13 games with the big club this season but is being sent out in favor of Christopher Morel, who was summoned from Triple-A. Velazquez had started just three of the last nine contests.
May 7 2023Velazquez is starting in right field and batting sixth in Sunday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez will get the start with Seiya Suzuki receiving a day off. Since Suzuki returned to the team in mid-April after recovering from an oblique strain, the Cubs have been pretty set in the outfield with him, Cody Bellinger and Ian Happ as regular starters. That leaves Velazquez as a bench option most days with limited fantasy appeal.
May 1 2023Velazquez will start in left field and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's filling in for Ian Happ while Happ gets a day of rest. Velazquez has provided some thump this season when given a shot to play, going 7-for-20 with three home runs.
Apr 30 2023Velazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game in Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez made four consecutive starts from Tuesday through Friday, but all but one of those assignments came while Cody Bellinger was on the paternity list. With Bellinger now back in action, Velazquez will take a seat for the second consecutive game. While Velazquez is up with the big club, he's likely to serve as little more than a short-side platoon option when the Cubs are at full strength.
Apr 29 2023Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Velazquez was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday with Cody Bellinger hitting the paternity list, but Bellinger was back Friday to play center, so Velazquez got the start at DH. He delivered his third home run in six games to go with an absurd 1.559 OPS, so the Cubs may decide to keep rolling him out there while he's producing like this at the plate.
Apr 28 2023Velazquez is serving as the designated hitter and batting ninth Friday at Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cody Bellinger is back from paternity leave to reclaim the starting job in center field, but the Cubs have opted to keep the hot-hitting Velazquez around and active. He is 6-for-13 (.462) with two home runs, five RBI and five runs scored in five major-league games this year.
Apr 27 2023Velazquez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 5-2 win against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After Eric Hosmer put Chicago on the board with a homer in the second inning, Velazquez made it back-to-back jacks with a long ball of his own. It was the second dinger of the campaign for Velazquez, who has spent much of his time this season in the minors. He's made his big-league opportunities count, though, as he is slashing .462/.563/1.077 with five RBI and four extra-base hits in just 16 plate appearances.