The Houston Astros made a roster move Thursday ahead of their series finale against the Los Angeles Angels, designating outfielder Nelson Velázquez for assignment after just a short stint with the club.
The Astros are scheduled to face the Angels at 7:10 p.m. CDT at Daikin Park. The Angels took the opener of the three-game set 3-1 on Tuesday, while Houston responded with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, the team called up Ray Delgado and designated Velázquez for assignment.
“The Astros called up Ray Delgado and DFAd Nelson Velázquez. Houston needs some infield coverage given Jeremy Peña’s status,” Rome posted.
Velázquez had been claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 10. In three games with the Astros, the 27-year-old went 0-for-4 with one RBI and one strikeout.
The move comes as Houston looks to bolster its infield options while Peña deals with an undisclosed situation. Delgado’s promotion is expected to provide additional depth in that area as the team navigates the final stretch of the regular season.
Velázquez first reached the majors with the Chicago Cubs in 2022. That year, he appeared in 77 games and posted a .205 batting average with a .286 on-base percentage and .373 slugging percentage. He collected six home runs, seven doubles, three triples and 26 RBIs during his rookie campaign.
His time in Chicago was brief in 2023, limited to just 13 games before a trade sent him to the Kansas City Royals. Across 53 combined contests that season with both clubs, Velázquez hit .235 with a .302 on-base percentage and a robust .586 slugging percentage. He launched 17 home runs and drove in 34 runs, showing the power potential that had drawn attention earlier in his career.
Performance dipped in 2024 with the Royals, where he managed only a .640 OPS. Kansas City released him early in the 2025 season. Velázquez later signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in September of that year but did not return to the major leagues until this season with the Cardinals.
In 34 games for St. Louis prior to joining Houston, he recorded a .721 OPS. The Astros had hoped the right-handed bat could provide some offensive spark off the bench or in a part-time role, but limited opportunities and production led to the quick decision to designate him for assignment.
Houston currently sits in first place in the American League West with a 64-63 record. The Astros hold a two-game edge over the second-place Texas Rangers as the division race remains tight in the later stages of the campaign.
Following the conclusion of the Angels series, Houston will stay home to host the Athletics for a three-game set. The roster adjustment reflects the ongoing effort by the front office to fine-tune the roster for both the immediate schedule and the push toward the postseason.
Velázquez’s journey through multiple organizations highlights the challenges many players face in securing a lasting role at the major league level. From his early days in Chicago through stops in Kansas City, Pittsburgh and St. Louis, he has shown flashes of power mixed with stretches of inconsistency at the plate.
As the Astros prepare for Thursday’s contest, the focus remains on maintaining their slim lead in the AL West. The addition of Delgado offers flexibility in the infield, particularly with Peña’s availability still a point of attention for manager Joe Espada and the coaching staff.
Fans at Daikin Park will see a slightly altered roster when the first pitch is thrown. Whether the move yields immediate results remains to be seen, but it underscores the constant roster churn that defines a competitive major league season.
The Astros will look to take the series with a win over the Angels before shifting attention to the upcoming matchup against Oakland. With the standings so close, every roster decision carries weight as August winds down and September approaches.
