Nelson Velazquez Released by Astros After Short Tenure

• Nelson Velazquez, formerly of the St. Louis Cardinals, was released by the Houston Astros.
• Velazquez had a .722 OPS in 34 games with the Cardinals before being cut.
• He plans to pursue baseball opportunities in Asia.
• Velazquez was signed by the Astros in late May 2026.
• The 27-year-old outfielder showed solid power but also had a high strikeout rate.