Nelson Velázquez #17

His full name is Nelson Javier Velázquez Romero... he resides in Carolina, P.R...Led Criollos de Caguas to the 2023-24 Puerto Rican League championship after recording eight extra-base hits and 12 RBI in 23 games…was also named a Caribbean Series All-Star at DH after hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a 1.139 OPS in five games with Puerto Rico.

2023

Split time with the Cubs and Triple-A Iowa to begin 2023, before being acquired by Kansas City on July 31…he made his Royals debut on Aug. 10 and from that day through season’s end, his 14 HR tied for second most in the American League behind Aaron Judge (16)...Made his Royals debut as a defensive replacement on Aug. 10 in Boston and made his first start with the Royals on Aug. 11 vs. St. Louis, when he became the fifth player in Royals history, according to Elias, to hit a HR in his first plate appearance with the club...He hit a HR every 9.50 at-bats with Kansas City, the highest rate in the Majors from his Royals debut on Aug. 10 through season’s end, ahead of Kyle Schwarber (9.71)...His 14 HR and 34 RBI in 40 games with the Royals paced out to 56 HR and 137 RBI over 162 games...Of his 38 hits in the Majors, 23 went for extra bases (60.5%), the third-highest rate (min. 20 XBH) behind Davis Schneider (65.6%) and Joey Gallo (62.0%)...His 14 HR are the most in Royals history by a player in his first 38 games with an at-bat with the club...His .586 slugging percentage ranked 6th in the Majors (min. 160 at-bats), trailing only Shohei Ohtani (.654), Corey Seager (.623), Aaron Judge (.613), Matt Olson (.604) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (.596)...Named Royals Player of the Month for September/ October after 12 of his 20 hits went for extra bases (60.0%), including nine HR, which tied for the third most HR by a Royal in September behind Salvador Perez (10 HR in Sept. 2021) and Jorge Soler (10 HR in Sept. 2019)...Homered in three straight games from Sept. 4-6 vs. the White Sox, becoming the first Royal with a HR in three straight games since Salvador Perez in Sept. 2021.

2022

Nelson in 2022 played in 77 games for the Cubs, batting .205 (38-for-185) with seven doubles, three triples, six home runs, 26 RBI and five stolen bases....Saw time at all three outfield positions and designated hitter, tallying two assists. ...Made his Major League debut in game one of the doubleheader May 30 vs. Milwaukee...collected his first career hit that day, an infield single off Ethan Small....Optioned to Triple-A Iowa June 1...recalled June 20... In the first 12 games after being recalled from Iowa, batted .308 (8-for-26) with four RBI, a .400 OBP and a .977 OPS....Hit his first career homer July 4 at Milwaukee off Eric Lauer....Blasted two home runs and notched a career-high five RBI July 22 at Philadelphia after entering as a pinch-hitter...is the second Cub since at least 1901 to record two homers in a game as a non-starter (also Thad Bosley, Aug. 12, 1985)...His first homer of the game was the first pinch-homer of his career....Tallied a career-high three hits Aug. 8 against the Nationals, including his first career game-winning RBI....Had two career-high five-game hitting streaks, June 30-July 5 and Aug. 8-16....Hit triples in back-to-back games Oct. 1-2, becoming the first Cub to accomplish the feat since Kyle Schwarber (Sept. 1-2, 2018). 

2021

In 2021, led Cubs minor leaguers with 73 RBI, 45 extra-base hits and 191 total bases while his 20 home runs and 104 hits ranked second... Batted .290 (36-for-124) with 10 doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 27 RBI in 34 games for Double-A Tennessee following his promotion from High-A South Bend, Aug. 4... Between the two clubs, batted .270 (104-for-385) with 23 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs and 73 RBI in 103 games... Named the Arizona Fall League MVP after leading the league with nine home runs, 40 hits, a .712 slugging mark, a 1.191 OPS, 16 extra-base hits and 74 total bases in 26 games for the Mesa Solar Sox... Was the Cubs' first AFL MVP since Kris Bryant in 2013.