This Royals hitter is known for raw power. Will it be enough to earn a roster spot?
Two seasons ago, Kansas City Royals outfielder Nelson Velázquez burst onto the scene with one unique skill set.
Raw power.
Velázquez was an under-the-radar trade acquisition. The Royals got him from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for veteran reliever Jose Cuas. At the time, KC general manager J.J. Picollo spoke highly of Velázquez and his potential fit.
“We like his power potential,” Picollo said following the trade. “He’s got a brief amount of time in the major leagues, but his minor-league track record is pretty good.”
The Royals gave Velázquez playing time in 2023. He showcased his power with 14 home runs and 28 RBIs in 40 games and posted an .878 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in the short stint.
Now, the Royals are hoping for more.
Velázquez is competing for a bench spot this spring. He is out of minor-league options and must make the team or risk being designated for assignment.
“Every day here is important,” Velázquez said. “No matter if you are working, if you are not playing or if you do, every day counts. You know, when you are hitting BP or throwing to the bases, there is data to work on yourself and get yourself better. Every spring training, every game, every day is important to us to show them that we can be out there and help the team win games.”
The Royals are considering all their bench options. The club could decide to lean offense-heavy over speed and defense. That would give Velázquez a chance to make a difference in a reserve role.
Conversely, KC might choose to have more positional versatility. When it comes to defense, Velázquez is limited to the outfield corners. In this scenario, he would need to show defensive improvement to secure a bench spot.
Velázquez has spent most of his Royals tenure in right and left field. He also drew a few starts as the designated hitter in 2024. However, Velázquez posted a .200 batting average and was sent to Triple-A Omaha last June.
The power numbers were down. And Velázquez knew he needed to be more consistent.
“They sent me down, and I just went again (to Triple-A) and got my at-bats to prepare for next year,” Velázquez said. “I’m not really thinking about that. I want to be with the team and help them to keep it up and be better than last year.”
This offseason, Velázquez worked on his conditioning and made swing adjustments. He trained with 1822 Fitness in West Palm Beach, Florida. The offseason workouts helped Velázquez get in better playing shape.
It also prepared him for winter ball in Puerto Rico. He starred for Criollos de Caguas and hit three home runs in a Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (LBPRC) semifinal game.
“I was working on my swing path and getting more on top of the ball,” Velázquez said. “It was working on that plane and staying more to the middle. Just working on my hips, my mobility and trying to keep my hips in a position to hit the ball where I want.”
Velázquez has 2 hits in 14 at-bats this spring. Despite a slow start, the Royals still believe in his power potential.
“If we are going to win, we’ve got to win with all 13 of our hitters,” Royals hitting coach Alec Zumwalt said.
Velázquez is in contention with Nick Pratto, Cavan Biggio, Harold Castro, Drew Waters and Joey Wiemer among others for the final roster spots. Velázquez will look to build a strong case for a bench role during the final two weeks of spring training.
“I mean there is a lot of opportunity,” Velázquez said. “Every time I go out there, they know what I can do. They know I can help the team in a lot of ways. And you know, I’m here for them. I mean, I play for the Kansas City Royals and that is the organization that I work for. I’m here every day, you know, showing them that they can trust I can be there with them playing the game.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM with the headline "This Royals hitter is known for raw power. Will it be enough to earn a roster spot?."
