Cardinals' Spring Surprise: Nelson Velázquez Steps Up
The St. Louis Cardinals spent the winter on a mission, hunting for starting pitching depth and a right-handed bat to bolster their lineup.
With Dustin May joining as a free agent and trades bringing in Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts, the pitching staff gained some much-needed depth. Yet, the search for a power-hitting outfielder lingered.
Enter Ramón Urías, a glove-first infielder whose signing shifted José Fermín and Thomas Saggese towards the outfield. But amid these moves, an unexpected story began to unfold-one that might just change the Cardinals' narrative this season.
Nelson Velázquez, a name that flew under the radar, emerged as a spring training revelation. At 27, with 31 big league homers under his belt, Velázquez was a low-risk, high-reward addition.
And reward he did, becoming the team’s standout hitter in camp. With four homers and nine RBIs, his performance is turning heads, especially considering his strikeout rate has plummeted from a career 28.8% to under 10% in his first 33 at-bats.
While this drop might not be sustainable, it's a promising sign of improvement.
Baseball-Reference offers a tool that gauges the quality of pitchers faced during spring training, and Velázquez scores a 7.5 out of 10. This places him on par with the average big league starter’s spring experience. Notably, his homer off former Cardinal Miles Mikolas underscores his ability to capitalize on opportunities.
As the Cardinals weigh Lars Nootbaar’s opening day availability, Velázquez’s chances of starting in left field grow stronger. Meanwhile, Saggese’s involvement with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic has limited his time in camp, making Velázquez's presence even more vital.
Last season, Velázquez struggled with Kansas City’s Triple-A team but excelled in Pittsburgh and the Mexican League. Blocked at his position, he sought a fresh start, and the Cardinals presented the perfect opportunity. With Nootbaar’s eventual return uncertain, Velázquez’s impressive skill set couldn’t have come at a better time.
While it’s possible Velázquez might revert to his previous strikeout-heavy form, his current performance is too compelling to ignore. He’s earned the chance to fill the vacancy that persisted through the offseason, fitting seamlessly into the Cardinals' quest to redefine their season.
For now, Velázquez’s story is one of potential and promise. As the season unfolds, he’ll have the chance to transform his spring success into regular-season impact.
And who knows? Maybe he’ll sock a few more dingers along the way.