Cubs Place Cody Bellinger on Paternity List, Recall Nelson Velázquez

The Chicago Cubs today recalled outfielder Nelson Velázquez from Triple-A Iowa and placed outfielder Cody Bellinger on the paternity leave list.

Velázquez, 24, is in his second stint with the Cubs as he appeared in two games for Chicago after he was recalled April 10. The following night vs. Seattle, he hit a go-ahead third-inning grand slam and finished with three runs scored. Velázquez was optioned back to Iowa April 15.

Velázquez has batted .327 (18-for-55) with four doubles, four home runs, nine RBI and six walks, contributing to a .403 on-base percentage and a 1.021 OPS in 14 games with Iowa this season.

The right-handed hitting Velázquez made his major league debut with Chicago in 2022, appearing in 77 games for the Cubs and batting .205 (38-for-185) with seven doubles, three triples, six home runs and 26 RBI while appearing at all three outfield positions.

In 2021, Velázquez led Cubs minor leaguers with 73 RBI, 45 extra-base hits and 191 total bases between High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee. Later that year, he was named the Arizona Fall League MVP after leading the league with nine home runs, 40 hits, a .712 slugging mark and a 1.191 OPS in 26 games for the Mesa Solar Sox.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of PJ Education School in Puerto Rico, Velázquez owns a .259 batting average (365-for-1,410) with 79 doubles, 11 triples, 64 home runs, 210 RBI and 56 stolen bases in 386 career minor league contests.

Bellinger, 27, is hitting .300 (24-for-80) with five doubles, five home runs, 15 RBI, nine walks and a .930 OPS in 21 games for Chicago, his first season with the organization.