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# Astros Release OF Nelson Velázquez to Pursue Opportunity in Asia
- URL: https://www.crawfordboxreport.com/astros-release-nelson-velazquez/
- Published: 2026-10-27T19:01:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-27T19:01:23.000Z
- Description: The Astros released outfielder Nelson Velázquez so he can pursue an opportunity with a club in Asia, Chandler Rome and Brian McTaggart reported Tuesday.
- Author: Crawford Box Report
- Tags: News

The Astros have released outfielder Nelson Velázquez so he can pursue an opportunity with a club in Asia, the team announced Tuesday.

[Chandler Rome of The Athletic](https://x.com/Chandler%5FRome/status/2115121127790186861?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) posted the news on X at 11:39 AM CT, writing that Houston "released Nelson Velázquez so he could pursue an opportunity with a club in Asia." [MLB.com's Brian McTaggart](https://x.com/brianmctaggart/status/2115120997699363021?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) reported the same shortly beforehand. [MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/astros-release-nelson-velazquez.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) and [NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/fantasy/baseball/player-news/2026-10-27/astros-release-asia-bound-outfielder-velazquez?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) also relayed the move.

Velázquez is 27\. Houston [claimed him off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 10](https://heavy.com/sports/mlb/houston-astros/release-27-year-old-world-series/?ref=crawfordboxreport.com). As an Astro he went 3-for-27 with 13 strikeouts and two home runs, was designated for assignment after about a week and a half on the roster, cleared waivers and elected free agency, then re-signed with Houston on a minor league deal, per [MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/astros-release-nelson-velazquez.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

Across St. Louis and Houston in 2026, he hit .188/.257/.406 with six home runs in 113 plate appearances. For his career, he has 37 home runs in 728 major league plate appearances, [per Baseball Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/velazne01.shtml?ref=crawfordboxreport.com).

Velázquez was on a minor league contract at the time of his release and was not occupying a spot on Houston's 40-man roster.

## Around the MLB

- **Nationals expected to hire David Besky as pitching strategist.** [MLB Trade Rumors](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/10/nationals-to-hire-david-besky-as-pitching-strategist.html?ref=crawfordboxreport.com) reported the move Tuesday, citing Kyle Williams of the Baltimore Banner. Besky most recently was the Red Sox' director of baseball sciences after three seasons in Boston; he previously spent three years as a data scientist at Driveline Baseball. The Athletic's Spencer Nusbaum added that his duties will include pitch calling and arsenal analysis. Washington did not have a pitching strategist title last season after promoting Sean Doolittle, who held the role in 2024 and 2025, to assistant pitching coach.

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