Houston Astros claim Nelson Velázquez off waivers from Cardinals

The Houston Astros have claimed outfielder Nelson Velázquez off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. To accommodate Velázquez on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated infielder/outfielder Shay Whitcomb for assignment.

Velázquez, 27, joined the Cardinals on a minor league contract earlier this year before earning a promotion to the major leagues in late May. During his tenure with St. Louis, he hit four home runs and recorded a .216/.289/.432 slash line. The Astros intend to use him as outfield depth, seeking to leverage his power potential.

Shay Whitcomb, a fifth-round pick from the 2020 MLB Draft, concludes his current stint on Houston’s 40-man roster. While Whitcomb saw success in Triple-A, his production has not transitioned effectively to the major leagues.