Nelson Velázquez - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Inks majors deal with Houston The Astros signed Velazquez to a major-league contract Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Velazquez cleared waivers Sunday after being designated for assignment by the Astros on Thursday. He was originally outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land, but Velazquez will rejoin the Astros' 26-man roster to provide the team with depth in the outfield. In a corresponding move, Raynel Delgado was optioned to Sugar Land.

10 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Sent outright to Triple-A The Astros outrighted Velazquez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.

Impact Velazquez has been outrighted before, giving him the right decline the Astros' outright assignment if he wants. If the 27-year-old stick around, he will provide additional outfield depth at Sugar Land. Velazquez has slashed .205/.273/.410 with four home runs across 37 games in the majors this season between the Cardinals and Astros.

20 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment The Astros designated Velazquez for assignment Thursday.

Impact Velazquez will end up as the necessary roster casualty needed to make room for Raynel Delgado, who was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday. Velazquez went 0-for-4 with a sacrifice fly during his 10-day stint with the Astros but owns a .764 OPS across 163 plate appearances in the minors this season.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Allen hits go-ahead sacrifice fly, Houston bullpen allows just a run as Astros beat Giants 2-1

Nick Allen hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, Steven Okert led an Astros bullpen that allowed just one run and Houston beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Wednesda...

AUGUST 12 • Associated Press

Rookies Bryce Eldridge and Carson Whisenhunt lead the Giants past the Astros, 4-1

Bryce Eldridge homered, fellow rookie Carson Whisenhunt pitched 5 2/3 innings after working out of two early bases-loaded jams and the San Francisco Giants beat the Houston Astros...

AUGUST 12 • Associated Press

Claimed off waivers by Astros The Astros claimed Velazquez off waivers from the Cardinals on Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Velazquez had been booted off the Cardinals' 40-man roster this past weekend after slashing .216/.289/.432 with four homers over 83 plate appearances. The 27-year-old is a candidate to get some starts in the outfield against left-handed pitching.

AUGUST 10 • ROTOWIRE

DFA'd by Cardinals The Cardinals designated Velazquez for assignment Saturday.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 8 • ROTOWIRE

Set to depart roster The Cardinals are expected to designate Velazquez for assignment Saturday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact 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.

AUGUST 8 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals scratch All-Star Jordan Walker from lineup against Yankees due to right knee inflammation

St. Louis Cardinals All-Star right fielder Jordan Walker has been scratched from the starting lineup against the New York Yankees because of right knee inflammation

AUGUST 4 • Associated Press

Gasser pitches career-best 7 2/3 innings in 10-2 win as Brewers sweep Cardinals in doubleheader

Joey Ortiz homered, Robert Gasser pitched a career-high 7 2/3 innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-2 Tuesday night to complete a doubleheader sweep

JULY 8 • Associated Press

Brewers rally past Cardinals 4-3 on a 4-run seventh inning

David Hamilton and Brice Turang drove in two runs each during a four-run seventh inning and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied from a three-run deficit to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4...

JULY 7 • Associated Press

Launches third homer Velazquez went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Atlanta.

Impact 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 every day 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.

JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Church and Velázquez homer, helping Cardinals beat free-falling Braves 5-3

Nathan Church hit a three-run homer, Nelson Velázquez added a solo shot and Matthew Liberatore threw five strong innings as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the NL East-leading Atlanta...

JULY 1 • Associated Press

Jordan Walker powers the Cardinals past the Mets 9-2 for their 6th straight victory

Jordan Walker homered and drove in four runs, his latest big game in a breakout season, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 9-2 to match a season high with their six...

JUNE 11 • Associated Press

Alec Burleson has 3 RBIs, Andre Pallante works 5 2/3 innings as Cardinals defeat Rangers 5-3

Alec Burleson drove in three runs, Andre Pallante threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers 5-3

JUNE 4 • Associated Press

Cardinals' Joshua Baez is destroying Triple-A pitching, so why isn't he in St. Louis? First we got Jimmy Crooks, then Nelson Velazquez, then Hunter Dobbins. The last infinity stone is clobbering Triple-A arms.

JUNE 1 • REDBIRDRANTS.COM

Cardinals Instantly Rewarded For Promoting Nelson Velázquez The St. Louis Cardinals made the right call on Friday to promote Nelson Velázquez.

MAY 30 • SI.COM

Homers in season debut 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.

Impact 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.

MAY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals waited months for Nelson Velázquez — he delivered on the very first pitch | Sporting News The very first pitch he saw as a Cardinal was crushed

MAY 30 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Velázquez, Saggese, Herrera hit HRs, lift Cardinals to a 6-5 win over the Cubs

Nelson Velázquez hit a three-run homer and Iván Herrera and Thomas Saggese added solo shots, powering the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs in the first meetin...

MAY 30 • Associated Press

Cardinals promote Crooks, Velázquez from Triple-A Memphis

The St. Louis Cardinals promoted catching prospect Jimmy Crooks and outfielder Nelson Velázquez from Triple-A before beginning a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs

MAY 29 • Associated Press

Contract selected The Cardinals selected Velazquez's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Impact 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-hitting Velazquez could see some starts in left field and or at designated hitter against left-handed pitching.

MAY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Reassigned to Triple-A The Cardinals reassigned Velazquez to Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact 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.

MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE

Continues push for roster spot Velazquez clubbed a two-run home run in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

Impact 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.

MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE

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.

Impact 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 the right-handed-hitting Velazquez's case, 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.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

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