Velazquez Making Case for Left Field Opportunity
The Cardinal Chronicle
Spring Training Notebook
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Velazquez Making Case for Left Field Opportunity
Spring training often provides unexpected opportunities, and for Nelson Velazquez, the door appears to be opening in Jupiter.
With Lars Nootbaar expected to get a late start to the 2026 season as he continues recovering from surgery on both heels, the Cardinals have begun sorting through several internal options for playing time in left field. Among the players drawing early attention is Velazquez, a non-roster invitee who has quietly put together a strong showing during Grapefruit League play.
Entering Sunday’s action, Velazquez had gone 5-for-17 (.294) through his first six spring contests, collecting one home run, one double, and showing solid plate discipline with a 2:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio. It’s a small sample size, but the quality of the at-bats has been enough to put his name firmly in the conversation.
The Cardinals’ lineup currently leans heavily to the left side, which naturally gives the right-handed hitting Velazquez a bit of added value in the competition. A balanced lineup is something the club often prioritizes, particularly when it comes to outfield matchups against left-handed pitching.
Still, Velazquez faces an uphill climb.
Unlike the other players competing for those at-bats — Nathan Church, Jose Fermin, and Thomas Saggese — Velazquez is not currently on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, which adds another layer of decision-making for the front office. Any path to the Opening Day roster would require a corresponding move.
But that’s the beauty of spring training.
Every year, someone forces the conversation.
For Velazquez, the next few weeks represent a chance to continue doing exactly that — stacking quality at-bats, playing solid defense, and making it increasingly difficult for the Cardinals to ignore his presence in camp.
The competition for left field may still be wide open, but one thing is already clear in Jupiter:
Nelson Velazquez has entered the race.
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