NELSON VELÁZQUEZ NEWS

Hits bench Wednesday Velazquez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Velazquez will sit Saturday against the Cubs.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Clubs another homer Velazquez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Mariners.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep in loss Velazquez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Mariners.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Tuesday Velazquez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes yard once again Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Saturday's loss against the Cardinals.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers with new team Velazquez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 12-8 win over the Cardinals.

Impact Velazquez's first at-bat as a Royal ended up over the bench, as he took St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright deep to open the second inning. Through 36 plate appearances between the Cubs and the Royals this year, Velazquez has four homers, seven RBI and two doubles while hitting .273. His time with the big club may be short -- he was brought up as outfield depth while Drew Waters is on the bereavement list.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A The Royals recalled Velazquez from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealt to KC The Cubs traded Velazquez to Kansas City on Monday in exchange for Jose Cuas.

Impact Velazquez has been effective during his limited opportunities in the majors this year, going 7-for-29 with three homers and six RBI in 13 games with the Cubs. However, the 24-year-old outfielder will report to Triple-A Omaha,. He holds a .797 OPS through 332 plate appearances at that level this season.

AUGUST 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs on Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Impact 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. He had started just three of the last nine contests.

MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up Sunday start Velazquez is starting in right field and batting sixth in Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Impact 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 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Getting start Velazquez is starting in left field and batting eighth for the Cubs in Monday's game versus the Nationals.

Impact 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.

MAY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to bench role Velazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game in Miami.

Impact 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.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Launches another home run Velazquez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Marlins.

Impact 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.

APRIL 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starting at DH on Friday Velazquez is serving as the designated hitter and batting ninth Friday at Miami.

Impact 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.

APRIL 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Belts homer in win Velazquez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 5-2 win against the Padres.

Impact 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.

APRIL 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets another start in center Velazquez is starting in center field and batting seventh Thursday afternoon against the Padres.

Impact Velazquez has covered center field for the Cubs in each of the three games since Cody Bellinger went on paternity leave Tuesday, and he's making a case to remain in the majors through Bellinger's anticipated return Friday. The 24-year-old is 5-for-10 with one home run, two doubles, three walks, four RBI and four runs scored in four total big-league games this season.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A Velazquez was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact He's replacing Cody Bellinger, who is off on paternity leave. Velazquez is 3-for-4 in two major-league games this year and has also been lighting it up in the minors, but he might only stay with the Cubs until Bellinger returns later in the week.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sent down to Triple-A The Cubs optioned Velazquez to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

Impact Velazquez is sent down to make room for Brandon Hughes after Hughes was activated off the 15-day injured list. The outfielder appeared in just one game, but he did go 3-for-4 with a grand slam while scoring three runs in that contest against Seattle. He'll head down to get regular playing time with Iowa.

APRIL 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Plays hero in come-from-behind win Velazquez went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, a double, a walk and two additional runs in Tuesday's 14-9 win over the Mariners.

Impact Velazquez's third-inning grand slam off Chris Flexen gave Chicago an 8-7 lead as the Cubs completed a rapid comeback from an early 7-0 deficit. The 24-year-old will be back on the bench for Wednesday's game against the Mariners, but he could force his way into the short side of a platoon in the corner outfield while he's up with the big club.

APRIL 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A Velazquez was recalled from Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs on Monday.

Impact Velazquez had been off to a red-hot start at Iowa, putting up a 1.129 OPS with three home runs and one stole base. His stay in the majors could be a short one with Seiya Suzuki (oblique) due back soon.

APRIL 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A level Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A Iowa by the Cubs on Thursday, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Velazquez drew 206 plate appearances on the North Side of Chicago last season, but he batted just .205/.286/.373 and is now on the outside looking in for a regular role after the club increased payroll with several significant signings over the winter.

MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

May be squeezed from roster Velazquez may be the odd man out with the Cubs adding several new players in the offseason, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

Impact In the outfield specifically, Cody Bellinger is new, and he figures to start alongside Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ. Dansby Swanson, Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini are also new, so there's more competition for the DH role as well. That could push Velazquez off the roster entirely, though he could resurface at some point if that's the case. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut in 2022 and ultimately appeared in 77 games for the Cubs.

FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Drives in four Velazquez went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and four RBI in Sunday's 8-1 win over the Reds.

Impact The rookie outfielder got the start Sunday and capitalized with four RBI, his highest total since recording five on July 22. Two of the RBI came via a double in the first inning, and two came via a triple in the seventh. Velazquez has received sporadic playing time recently due to his uninspiring .203/.282/.374 slash line this season, but the big day Sunday may help his case to stay in the lineup the last week of the season.

OCTOBER 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting again Sunday Velazquez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh.

Impact It's the third straight game on the bench for Velazquez, who appears to have fallen out of favor for playing time with a .449 OPS through 15 games in September. Michael Hermosillo is again starting in center field and batting eighth in Sunday's series finale.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE