2024 Stats
AVG
.200
HR
8
RBI
27
R
31
SB
2
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Velazquez smacked 14 home runs in just 40 games with the Royals in 2023 and began the 2024 campaign as their Opening Day designated hitter. He never really got going last season, though, save from a 13-game stretch toward the end of May when he clubbed six long balls. Velazquez was sent down to Triple-A Omaha less than a month after that stretch and remained there for the rest of the season. Strikeouts have always been a problem for the 26-year-old, but Velazquez made up for it in 2023 with oodles of hard contact. That wasn't the case in 2024, however, as he saw his hard-hit rate drop from 49.1 percent to 38.1 percent and barrel rate dip from a ridiculous 21.4 percent all the way down to 8.8 percent. Kansas City's outfield and DH rotation isn't a difficult one to crack, so Velazquez can't be totally dismissed as a deep-league power option. That said, Velazquez's strikeouts and poor defense leave him with a slim margin for error. Read Past Outlooks
Outrighted to Triple-A
Velazquez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Velazquez posted a .595 OPS over 29 plate appearances during spring training, so Kansas City won't keep him on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old clubbed 14 homers in just 40 games for the Royals in 2023 but delivered a .200/.274/.366 slash line in 64 regular-season contests last year.
Velazquez posted a .595 OPS over 29 plate appearances during spring training, so Kansas City won't keep him on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old clubbed 14 homers in just 40 games for the Royals in 2023 but delivered a .200/.274/.366 slash line in 64 regular-season contests last year.
Batting Stats
Loading Batting Stats...
2024
2023
2022
Minor League Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Batting Game Log...
Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
3
11
21
3
4
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
4
9
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2022
+3%
OPS vs LHP
2024
+21%
OPS vs LHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022vs Left | .734 | 206 | 9 | 23 | .211 | ||||
| Since 2022vs Right | .712 | 409 | 22 | 64 | .212 | ||||
| 2024vs Left | .726 | 70 | 1 | 7 | .250 | ||||
| 2024vs Right | .602 | 160 | 7 | 20 | .179 | ||||
| 2023vs Left | .708 | 54 | 4 | 7 | .184 | ||||
| 2023vs Right | .966 | 125 | 13 | 27 | .257 | ||||
| 2022vs Left | .756 | 82 | 4 | 9 | .197 | ||||
| 2022vs Right | .599 | 124 | 2 | 17 | .211 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2022
+27%
OPS at Home
2024
+14%
OPS at Home
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022Home | .801 | 322 | 18 | 53 | .233 | ||||
| Since 2022Away | .630 | 293 | 13 | 34 | .189 | ||||
| 2024Home | .682 | 115 | 4 | 15 | .218 | ||||
| 2024Away | .598 | 115 | 4 | 12 | .183 | ||||
| 2023Home | 1.111 | 114 | 13 | 28 | .297 | ||||
| 2023Away | .512 | 65 | 4 | 6 | .131 | ||||
| 2022Home | .574 | 93 | 1 | 10 | .174 | ||||
| 2022Away | .731 | 113 | 5 | 16 | .232 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Nelson Velazquez compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.31BB Rate
8.3%K Rate
26.5%BABIP
.237ISO
.166AVG
.200OBP
.274SLG
.366OPS
.640wOBA
.284Exit Velocity
88.2 mphHard Hit Rate
31.3%Barrels/PA
5.7%Expected BA
.214Expected SLG
.396Sprint Speed
24.2 ft/secGround Ball %
37.4%Line Drive %
14.3%Fly Ball %
48.3%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
Loading Advanced Batting Stats...
Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
Loading Games Played by Position...
Batted Ball Stats
Loading Batted Ball Stats...
Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Nelson Velazquez See More
Todd Zola explains how projected playing time and a skills-based approach helps him identify upside plays late in a draft, as well as leading him to put Aaron Judge at the top of his personal rankings.
Jason Collette highlights 10 sleepers going late in drafts, including second-year Nationals starter DJ Herz.
Todd Zola examines strategies for the Underdog postseason contest, and notes that while Shoehi Ohtani may be the best player, you may not want to take him first overall.
Wyatt Langford is on a hot run with the Texas Rangers, and he's one of the many American League players highlighted in Ryan Boyer's Lineup Lowdown.
Gunnar Henderson and the Baltimore Orioles are one of the teams that is home for all seven games, as Todd Zola highlights the prime hitting matchups for the week of June 24-30.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
Velazquez played in just 13 games for the Cubs in 2023 before being shipped to the Royals at the trade deadline, and he appeared in 40 games over the final two months of the year. The 25-year-old showed off his power with 17 home runs plus 35 runs and 34 RBI in just 179 plate appearances overall. He improved his strikeout rate three points from his first look in MLB during 2022, though it was still high at 28.5 percent, and he had a solid 8.0 percent walk rate. A 21.4 percent barrel rate trailed only Aaron Judge among players with at least 170 plate appearances, while a 32.1 HR/FB led the league in the same sample size. All of those figures are clearly unsustainable, but Velazquez's power potential is obvious with 23 homers in his first 130 MLB games. He should have plenty of at-bats for Kansas City in 2024, and he appears to be a safe bet for double-digit and possibly 20-plus homers, though the swing-and-miss in Velazquez's stroke still leaves plenty of risk despite the clear upside.
More Fantasy News
Back in action Friday
Velazquez (calf) is starting in right field and batting cleanup in Friday's spring game against the Angels.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Dealing with calf cramps
Velazquez exited Wednesday's Cactus League game versus the Mariners due to a calf cramp, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Makes early exit Wednesday
Velazquez was removed from Wednesday's Cactus League game against Seattle due to an apparent injury, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Sent back to Triple-A
The Royals optioned Velazquez to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Back in lineup Sunday
Velazquez will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh in Sunday's series finale against the Rangers.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Likely ticketed for minors
Patrick Mooney of The Athletic believes Velazquez could begin 2023 in the minors in order to receive consistent playing time.
ANALYSIS
The 24-year-old made his MLB debut last year and had a .659 OPS and 31.6 percent strikeout rate in 77 games. Velazquez would likely serve as a No. 4 outfielder for the big-league club given the offseason additions of Cody Bellinger and Trey Mancini, and seeing regular playing time with Triple-A Iowa could be more beneficial for his development. Regardless, Velazquez shouldn't be expected to have much of a fantasy impact in 2023, at least while the group of current outfielders remains with the club and healthy.
The 24-year-old made his MLB debut last year and had a .659 OPS and 31.6 percent strikeout rate in 77 games. Velazquez would likely serve as a No. 4 outfielder for the big-league club given the offseason additions of Cody Bellinger and Trey Mancini, and seeing regular playing time with Triple-A Iowa could be more beneficial for his development. Regardless, Velazquez shouldn't be expected to have much of a fantasy impact in 2023, at least while the group of current outfielders remains with the club and healthy.