‘Like a brother’: Cubs doubleheader vs. Brewers features MLB debuts, reunions

Making his Major League debut, Cubs outfielder Nelson Velazquez swings through an infield single off Brewers starting pitcher Ethan Small in the first game of a doubleheader Monday.When the Cubs called up Christopher Morel from Double-A a couple weeks ago, outfielder Nelson Velázquez had a feeling he wouldn’t be far behind.

Sure enough, Velázquez texted Morel on Sunday saying, See you soon.

Morel said he texted back: Stop kidding. But Velázquez was serious. The Cubs were recalling him from Triple-A Iowa to make his major-league debut Monday.

“Nelson for me is like a brother, really,” Morel said Monday, through team interpreter Will Nadal. “Inside the baseball field, outside the baseball field.…