Chicago Cubs Prospect Nelson Velazquez flashes power

After returning to Chicago Cubs Spring Training after participating in the World Baseball Classic with Team Puerto Rico, Chicago Cubs outfielder prospect Nelson Velazquez flashed his power as he hit a 3-run walk-off home run in the Cubs' Cactus League game against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

There has been educated speculation that Velazquez will likely begin the season with Triple-A Iowa after he had an extended stint at the Major League level with the Cubs in 2022. Injuries necessitated the Cubs' need to keep Velazquez at the Major League level last season and that may have thwarted his development as he did not see the consistent plate appearances that he otherwise would have had he been able to return to the minor leagues.

While Seiya Suzuki has resumed light baseball activity after suffering an oblique strain at the beginning of Spring Training, Suuzki is still destined to begin the season on the Injured List. Mike Tauchman has impressed the Cubs' coaching staff to the degree that he has likely earned a spot on the Opening Day roster with the Major League team. It would seem that Cubs' manager David Ross prefers to rotate between Trey Mancini and Patrick Wisdom in place of Suzuki in right field and with Tauchman on the team as a fourth outfielder, Velazquez likely will begin the season with the Iowa Cubs in order to get consistent playing time.

Nevertheless, the approach that Velazquez had on Sunday is the reason why the future is still bright for the outfielder if he can find the way to put the ball in play more. Velazquez has tremendous power and that will undoubtedly play at the Major League level if he can put it all together.