Former Chicago Cubs Top Prospect Suffers Another Setback

Nelson Velázquez, once viewed as one of the Chicago Cubs’ brighter young talents, faced another difficult turn in his professional path Thursday when the Houston Astros designated the outfielder for assignment ahead of their series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.

The move came as the Astros prepared to host the Angels at Daikin Park for a 7:10 p.m. CDT start. Houston had claimed Velázquez off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals just 10 days earlier, on Aug. 10, hoping the right-handed hitter could provide some depth.

In three games with the Astros, he went hitless in four at-bats while driving in one run and striking out once.

The Astros also called up Ray Delgado in a corresponding move.

“The Astros called up Ray Delgado and DFAd Nelson Velázquez. Houston needs some infield coverage given Jeremy Peña’s status,” according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome.

For Velázquez, the designation marks the latest obstacle in a career that once held significant promise.

Drafted by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2017 amateur draft, he rose through their system and earned recognition as a top organizational prospect, ranking as high as No. 10 on Baseball America’s Cubs list in 2018. He showed strong power potential in the minors, including an Arizona Fall League MVP performance in 2021 that helped push him onto Chicago’s 40-man roster.

Velázquez made his major league debut with the Cubs on May 30, 2022. That season he appeared in 77 games, batting .205 with six home runs, seven doubles, three triples and 26 RBI. The power tool that scouts had long admired was evident, even if consistency at the plate remained a work in progress.

In 2023, after appearing in only 13 games for Chicago, the Cubs traded him to the Kansas City Royals. Combined that year between the two clubs, he played 53 games and hit .235 with 17 home runs and 34 RBI, posting a robust .586 slugging percentage. The second-half surge with Kansas City offered a glimpse of the impact he could deliver when everything clicked.

The following season proved tougher. Velázquez struggled with the Royals in 2024, finishing with a .640 OPS. Kansas City released him early in 2025. He later signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates in September of that year but did not return to the majors until joining the Cardinals for the 2026 campaign.

With St. Louis this season, Velázquez appeared in 34 games and recorded a .721 OPS before the club designated him for assignment earlier this month. The Astros’ brief look at him did not produce the results either side had hoped for, leading to Thursday’s decision.

At 27, Velázquez still possesses the raw tools that once made him a prospect of note — particularly the ability to drive the ball with authority. Yet the repeated roster moves underscore the challenges of translating minor league success and occasional major league flashes into a stable big league role.

The Astros entered Thursday’s contest with a 64-63 record, holding a two-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the American League West. After wrapping up the Angels series, Houston will host the Athletics for three games.

For Velázquez, the immediate future remains uncertain as he waits to see whether another club claims him off waivers or if he ultimately becomes a free agent. What is clear is that the former Cubs top prospect continues to navigate the ups and downs of a major league career that has already spanned multiple organizations and more than four seasons of big league experience.

Teams often value players with his track record of power and previous prospect pedigree, especially as the season moves deeper into August and clubs look for extra bats or depth pieces. Whether that interest materializes quickly will determine the next chapter for the Puerto Rico native.

In the meantime, the Astros turn their attention to the field, seeking to build on Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the Angels after dropping the series opener 3-1. The roster adjustment reflects the constant evaluation and roster management required for a contending club in a tight division race.