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Nelson Velazquez 2024 Player Outlook: Strikeouts Hindering Value
9 months agoKansas City Royals outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Velazquez boasts a wealth of power in his bat. The downside, however, is the fact that he has major strikeout issues which puts a cap on his fantasy value. The ability to play long ball has been evident throughout his minor-league career but so have the punchouts. Through 130 big-league games, the former Chicago Cub has slammed 23 home runs but has also struck out in 30.1% of his plate appearances. Even at Triple-A Iowa, he punched out in 29.4% of his trips to the plate, a concerning trend, to be sure. He is likely to handle everyday DH duties for the Royals to kick off the 2024 season and his power should play. However, his counting stats will be limited by his swing-and-miss profile, more or less making him a one-trick pony moving forward.
