Chicago Cubs calling up outfield prospect Nelson Velazquez from Triple-A Iowa
After a dominating season in 2021 and a strong showing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, the Chicago Cubs put outfielder Nelson Velazquez on the 40-man roster and opened the door for a promotion to the big leagues in the near futu.
His time has finally come.
The Chicago Cubs are promoting Velazquez, a 23-year-old outfielder and one of the organization's top prospects, from Triple-A Iowa. Velazquez confirmed the news to The Des Moines Register on Sunday.
Velazquez hinted that a callup was happening when he began reposting news of a promotion on his verified Instagram account Sunday. Velazquez, who has a big bat and a strong arm, is considered one of the organization's prized prospects.
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The move, which has yet to be announced by the Cubs, will likely come Monday, when Chicago is scheduled to play a doubleheader.
Velazquez, a fifth-round draft pick by the Cubs in 2017, is ranked the 15th-best prospect in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline. And for good reason.
Velazquez was one of the most productive hitters in the entire system in 2021 when he hit .270/.333/.496 with 23 doubles and 20 homers between High-A and Double-A. He continued to rake in the AFL and led the league in homers (nine) and OPS (1.191).
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The Cubs initially took their time with Velazquez this season. He started the season in Double-A but hit nine homers in 22 games and was promoted to Iowa in May. Velazquez has had mixed results so far in Triple-A, where he’s hit .214/.291/.414 with three homers in 19 games.
Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Cubs promoting prospect Nelson Velazquez from Triple-A Iowa
