Tuesday afternoon, the Chicago Cubs placed center fielder Cody Bellinger on the paternity list, opening up an opportunity for rookie Nelson Velazquez to start in center field in the club's series opener against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field Tuesday night at 7:40 p.m. ET.
Velazquez will draw his second start of the season, batting ninth in the first game of a three-game series in Chicago. Velazquez has spent almost all of the season in Triple-A, despite receiving a call-up to the club's big league roster last summer. In the only game he has played in for the Cubs, Velazquez hit a clutch grand slam to give the Cubs a lead over the Seattle Mariners, despite trailing 7-0. Velazquez went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, a double and a walk.
His impressive showing wasn't enough to keep him in the lineup, as Cubs manager David Ross chose not to play him in his squad's next two games, before sending him back down to Triple-A.
Bellinger's girlfriend gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Sunday, and now he will be on the paternity list. Per Major League Baseball rules, once placed on the paternity list, a player must stay there for a minimum of 24 hours, but must be taken off the paternity list after 72 hours.
Bellinger has exceeded expectations in his first month with the Cubs. The 2019 National League MVP has looked comfortable at the plate, slashing .300/.380/.930 with five home runs and 15 RBI, while playing stellar defense in center field.
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