Cubs Roster Moves: Nelson Velazquez recalled, pitcher optioned to Iowa |
PITTSBURGH – The Chicago Cubs today recalled outfielder Nelson Velázquez from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-handed pitcher Adrian Sampson to Iowa.
Velázquez, 23, begins his second stint with the Cubs this season after he made his major league debut on May 30, combining to go 2-for-7 in both games of the doubleheader against Milwaukee. In 56 games between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa, Velázquez is hitting .241 (49-for-203) with 11 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 32 RBI, 12 stolen bases and an .859 OPS. His 15 home runs are tied for the most among Cubs minor leaguers with Matt Mervis and Alexander Canario. The right-handed hitting Velázquez, named the 2021 Arizona Fall League MVP, owns a career .256 average (347-for-1,355) with 75 doubles, 11 triples, 60 home runs, 201 RBI and 54 stolen bases in 372 minor league games. The six-foot tall outfielder was added to the Cubs 40-man roster this past offseason. A native of Carolina, P.R., Velázquez has spent parts of five minor league seasons in the Cubs organization since being selected by the club in the fifth round of the 2017 draft out of PJ Education School. Sampson, 30, has not allowed a run in two games (5.2 IP) this season out of the Cubs bullpen. Yesterday vs. Atlanta he became the first Cub reliever to toss at least 4.2 shutout innings with one or no baserunners allowed since Dave Roberts, August 23, 1977, vs. San Francisco.
