The St. Louis Cardinals revealed their list of non-roster invitees for Spring Training, and one notable name included is corner outfielder and designated hitter. His presence on that list confirms that the organization has brought him in on a minor league contract.
He is represented by MDR Sports Management, and this agreement gives him another opportunity to reestablish himself within affiliated baseball after a winding and challenging couple of seasons.
At 27 years old, He is attempting to work his way back to the major leagues for the first time in two years. His professional journey over the past season has been anything but straightforward.
After beginning the year in the Kansas City Royals organization, he found himself removed from the team’s 40-man roster during Spring Training and was outrighted. That move immediately placed him in a precarious position, as he entered the season without the roster protection he once had and with his future in the organization uncertain.
He opened the year with Kansas City’s Triple-A affiliate, hoping to force his way back into the Royals’ plans. However, his performance over the first several weeks did not meet expectations. Across 33 games at the Triple-A level, he struggled to find consistency at the plate, posting a .202 batting average. The lack of offensive production ultimately cost him his spot in the organization, as the Royals released him in May, leaving him without an affiliated team and facing a crossroads in his professional career.
Rather than allowing that setback to derail his ambitions, Velázquez looked elsewhere for an opportunity to keep playing. He landed in the Mexican League, a move that often serves as either a last resort or a career revival platform for players seeking to re-enter the radar of Major League Baseball organizations. In Velázquez’s case, the decision proved to be a turning point.
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Over the course of 49 games, he put together a dominant offensive showing, rediscovering the power and confidence that had once made him an intriguing big league option. His performance was strong enough to draw renewed attention from MLB clubs, opening the door for a return to affiliated baseball.
That opportunity came when the Pittsburgh Pirates signed him to a minor league contract. Velázquez joined their organization late in the season and spent the final month with Triple-A Indianapolis. Although his time there was relatively brief, it provided him with another chance to face high-level pitching and demonstrate that his production in Mexico was no fluke.
Importantly, Velázquez carried that momentum with him. Against Triple-A pitching in Indianapolis, he showed a markedly improved approach and impact at the plate. Over 79 plate appearances, he finished the season with a strong .284/.329/.554 slash line, clubbing five home runs in the process.
That stretch reinforced the idea that his bat still had life and that his raw power could translate against upper-level competition. Despite that late surge, the Pirates did not call him up to the major league roster, and he instead entered the offseason looking for another chance.
That chance now comes with the Cardinals, who extended Velázquez a non-roster invitation to Spring Training. While the deal does not guarantee him a spot on the Opening Day roster, it gives him access to a big league environment and the opportunity to compete for a role within an organization that is entering a transitional phase.
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Velázquez’s major league experience to date has come primarily with the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals. His time in the big leagues has been defined by flashes of power but also prolonged stretches of inconsistency.
The most productive period of his MLB career came during the second half of the 2023 season, after the Royals acquired him from the Cubs. During that span, he went on an impressive power surge, blasting 14 home runs in just 40 games. For a time, he looked like a middle-of-the-order threat capable of changing games with one swing.
However, that hot streak stands out as the lone extended run of success at the major league level. Outside of that period, Velázquez has struggled to maintain offensive consistency. Over 615 career plate appearances — roughly the equivalent of one full MLB season — he owns a .212/.286/.433 slash line.
While he has managed to hit 31 home runs during that time, the low batting average and on-base percentage have limited his overall value. Teams have been intrigued by his power but hesitant to commit to him as a regular contributor due to concerns about contact ability and plate discipline.
From the Cardinals’ perspective, Velázquez represents a low-risk, potentially high-reward addition. St. Louis is currently navigating a rebuilding phase, one that could create opportunities for players on the fringes of the roster. Several recent and expected roster moves have reshaped the outfield and corner positions, opening the door for competition and experimentation.
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One of the most significant changes came indirectly through the Willson Contreras trade. With Contreras no longer in the picture, Alec Burleson is expected to transition from the outfield into a more permanent role at first base.
That shift has a ripple effect on the roster, potentially freeing up at-bats and defensive innings in the outfield. Even so, the Cardinals are not without options, and playing time remains a valuable and contested resource.
There is also uncertainty surrounding Lars Nootbaar, the team’s left fielder. While Nootbaar remains an important piece of the roster, his recent postseason heel surgeries have introduced questions about his health and availability.
The Cardinals could consider moving him at some point, but it is widely believed they may prefer to wait until midseason, allowing him time to demonstrate that he is fully healthy before making any major decisions.
In right field, Jordan Walker is slated to receive another extended opportunity. Once considered one of the organization’s top prospects, Walker now faces what could be a pivotal year in his development. The Cardinals appear committed to giving him every chance to establish himself as a long-term solution, making it unlikely that they would prioritize a veteran depth option over his growth.
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At designated hitter, the path to playing time is even narrower. Iván Herrera is expected to see the bulk of the DH at-bats when he is not behind the plate catching. That arrangement leaves little room for others to carve out a regular role at the position, further complicating Velázquez’s chances of earning meaningful major league playing time in the short term.
In terms of profile, Velázquez shares some similarities with players already in the organization. Like Walker and top prospect Joshua Baez, he is a right-handed hitter known primarily for his power potential.
All three players offer the possibility of extra-base damage, but each also comes with questions about consistency and overall offensive approach. Given that overlap, the Cardinals are unlikely to force Velázquez into the lineup at the expense of younger players they view as potential cornerstones of the franchise.
Instead, Velázquez appears positioned as experienced depth — a player who can provide insurance and competition rather than a guaranteed contributor. Notably, he is the only non-roster outfielder in the Cardinals’ camp who has logged major league experience. That distinction underscores both his value as a depth option and the reality that his role is more about support than prominence.
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Barring an exceptional Spring Training performance, the most likely outcome is that Velázquez begins the season with Triple-A Memphis. From there, he would aim to stay productive and be ready if injuries or roster changes create an opening at the major league level. For Velázquez, the arrangement represents another chapter in a career defined by perseverance, power, and the constant challenge of turning flashes of potential into sustained success.
For the Cardinals, the signing is a calculated move — a way to add experienced depth without committing significant resources, while still giving themselves the chance to uncover value if Velázquez’s bat proves capable of carrying over his late-season Triple-A success.
Whether that opportunity ultimately leads him back to the majors remains to be seen, but for now, he has secured another foothold in affiliated baseball and a chance to keep his big league aspirations alive.
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