Nelson Velazquez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #15 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Velazquez went to high school in Florida before moving back to Puerto Rico and becoming one of the island’s top draft prospects in 2017. The Cubs drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $400,000. Velazquez disappointed his first few seasons, but he began to show signs of life before the coronavirus pandemic hit. He broke out in 2021 and led the Cubs system in total bases (191) while advancing to Double-A Tennessee, then won MVP of the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Velazquez has long had loud tools and is finally turning them into production. He generates above-average power out of his compact, muscular build and has made swing adjustments to better access it. He previously struggled with fastballs and was too pull-oriented, but he flattened his swing to stay in the zone longer and now drives high-velocity fastballs to all fields. He remains prone to chasing breaking balls off the plate but makes enough contact overall to project to hit .240 with 20-plus home runs. Velazquez is a good athlete given his bulk and makes highlight-reel catches in both center and right field. He has average speed and plus arm strength.
  
  The Future: Velazquez is on track to be at least a part-time outfielder in the majors. He was added to the 40-man roster last fall and may make his major league debut in 2022.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #13 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Cubs became sold on Velazquez's talent in May 2017, when he starred at the Excellence Games. He showed off 70-grade speed at that event as well as a strong arm and above-average raw power. His eight home runs tied him for third in the Rookie-level Arizona League in his debut, and his 11 homers in the Northwest League in 2018 tied him for fifth on the college-heavy circuit.
  
  Scouting Report: The most troubling part of Velazquez's season was his inability to adjust to the way he was pitched. He didn't budge from a pull-happy approach, choosing instead to sell out for power at Eugene's pitcher-friendly PK Park. The most frustrating part was that Velazquez shows plenty of opposite-field power in batting practice, but hasn't made the adjustments to use it. His lower half has thickened up some, degrading some of the speed that he showed as an amateur. Scouts have gotten run times that range from a tick below-average to plus, helping to make him an average defender in both corners and usable in center field. His plus throwing arm would serve him well in right field.
  
  The Future: Velazquez flunked his initial test at low Class A South Bend in 2018, so he'll likely head back to the Midwest League in 2019. He's got a high ceiling, but a long way to go to make it a reality.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #10 prospect in 2018
  The Cubs invested in Puerto Rico by hiring former big leaguer Edwards Guzman as a scout focused on the island's prep talent. He gave the Cubs the information to crosscheck Velazquez early, so when he popped at May's Excellence Games event--Puerto Rico's top predraft showcase--the Cubs were ready and made him the first position player they drafted in 2017. Velazquez showed some rust in his pro debut because he sat out about six weeks after the draft before playing in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but he showed electric tools once he played. His eight homers tied for third in the league, and he produces power with bat speed, present strength and more feel to hit than was expected. His plus-plus raw power grades above his hitting ability, but he has some natural feel for the barrel. His approach is raw, as are some aspects of his defense, but he's a plus runner if not better underway and has a solid-average arm. With his power and athleticism, Velazquez likely will fit the right-field profile, though any outfield spot is possible. His aptitude will determine how quickly he moves, but he likely will be in extended spring training to start 2018.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #202 prospect in 2017 draft
  Velazquez played at Lake Worth High in Florida as an underclassmen, but moved back to Puerto Rico after being ruled ineligible by the FHSAA. He had an outstanding showing at the Excellence Tournament in May, solidifying him for most as the second-best player in the Puerto Rico class behind the toolsier Heliot Ramos. He's a physical specimen and shows plus raw tools. He ran the the 60-yard dash in less than 6.5 seconds at the Excellence Tournament, a 70-grade time on the 20-to-80 scale. Velazquez shows plus bat speed and average to slightly above-average raw power and he has a plus arm. Scouts describe Velazquez's pure hitting ability as very raw; he'll have to adjust his aggressive offensive approach against better pitching. His strong finish had him trending up, and he could go somewhere in the third to fifth round.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #8 prospect in 2018
  Velazquez’s calling card is his power, stemming both from his bat and his arm. His 11 home runs made him one of six players in the NWL with double-digit home runs, just four behind league-leader Curtis Terry. He generates his power brute strength and well above-average bat speed. Velazquez has a double-plus arm. He grades as an average defender in the corners and has enough athleticism to play center field in a pinch. The key going forward will be his hit tool. Scouts see a poor approach with a lack of awareness about the way he will be pitched and the types of pitches he’s equipped to handle.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #20 prospect in 2017
  Selected with the last pick of the fifth round, Velazquez waited until just before the signing deadline to agree to terms with the Cubs for an over-slot $400,000 bonus. Despite not getting into a game until near the end of the first half, he often showed off plus raw power, smacking eight home runs in just 110 at-bats and falling one homer short of the AZL lead. While still raw at the plate, Velazquez has a strong body and makes hard contact, generating power to all fields with excellent bat speed. He tends to open up on the front side and get pull happy, struggling with pitches away, but he barrels up balls on pitches middle in. He improved his two-strike approach during the summer. It's a power over average profile now, but he's got a chance to hit for average with a better approach and improved pitch recognition. Velazquez flashed a plus arm and plus speed during pre-draft workouts, but was slower in his first pro season due to a nagging hamstring problem. While he played all three outfield positions in the AZL, he projects best as a middle-of-the-order corner outfielder.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Velazquez went to high school in Florida before moving back to Puerto Rico and becoming one of the island&#39s top draft prospects in 2017. The Cubs drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $400,000. Velazquez disappointed his first few seasons, but he began to show signs of life before the coronavirus pandemic hit. He broke out in 2021 and led the Cubs system in total bases (191) while advancing to Double-A Tennessee, then won MVP of the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Velazquez has long had loud tools and is finally turning them into production. He generates above-average power out of his compact, muscular build and has made swing adjustments to better access it. He previously struggled with fastballs and was too pull-oriented, but he flattened his swing to stay in the zone longer and now drives high-velocity fastballs to all fields. He remains prone to chasing breaking balls off the plate but makes enough contact overall to project to hit .240 with 20-plus home runs. Velazquez is a good athlete given his bulk and makes highlight-reel catches in both center and right field. He has average speed and plus arm strength.
  
  The Future: Velazquez is on track to be at least a part-time outfielder in the majors. He was added to the 40-man roster last fall and may make his major league debut in 2022.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Velazquez went to high school in Florida before moving back to Puerto Rico and becoming one of the island’s top draft prospects in 2017. The Cubs drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $400,000. Velazquez disappointed his first few seasons, but he began to show signs of life before the coronavirus pandemic hit. He broke out in 2021 and led the Cubs system in total bases (191) while advancing to Double-A Tennessee, then won MVP of the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Velazquez has long had loud tools and is finally turning them into production. He generates above-average power out of his compact, muscular build and has made swing adjustments to better access it. He previously struggled with fastballs and was too pull-oriented, but he flattened his swing to stay in the zone longer and now drives high-velocity fastballs to all fields. He remains prone to chasing breaking balls off the plate but makes enough contact overall to project to hit .240 with 20-plus home runs. Velazquez is a good athlete given his bulk and makes highlight-reel catches in both center and right field. He has average speed and plus arm strength.
  
  The Future: Velazquez is on track to be at least a part-time outfielder in the majors. He was added to the 40-man roster last fall and may make his major league debut in 2022.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Velazquez made a swing adjustment to flatten his bat path and stay in the zone longer. The changes have helped him stay on fastballs better and use the whole field more. His strikeout rate remains too high, but he is making improvements and was recently promoted to Double-A Tennessee.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Cubs invested in Puerto Rico by hiring former big leaguer Edwards Guzman as a scout focused on the island's prep talent. He gave the Cubs the information to crosscheck Velazquez early, so when he popped at May's Excellence Games event--Puerto Rico's top predraft showcase--the Cubs were ready and made him the first position player they drafted in 2017. Scouting Report: Velazquez showed some rust in his pro debut because he sat out about six weeks after the draft before playing in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but he showed electric tools once he played. His eight homers tied for third in the league, and he produces power with bat speed, present strength and more feel to hit than was expected. His plus-plus raw power grades above his hitting ability, but he has some natural feel for the barrel. His approach is raw, as are some aspects of his defense, but he's a plus runner if not better underway and has a solid-average arm. The Future: With his power and athleticism, Velazquez likely will fit the right-field profile. His aptitude will determine how quickly he moves, but he likely will be in extended spring training to start 2018.