Vincent John Velasquez
( ; born June 7, 1992) is an American
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
for the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
,
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
,
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
and
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
.
Born in
Montclair, California
Montclair is a city in the Pomona Valley, in southwestern San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino County, California. The population was 36,664 in the 2010 United States Census.
History
The earliest known inhabitants of the area wer ...
, Velasquez was a multi-sport athlete at Garey High School in
Pomona. After
bone spur
An exostosis, also known as bone spur, is the formation of new bone on the surface of a bone. Exostoses can cause chronic pain ranging from mild to debilitatingly severe, depending on the shape, size, and location of the lesion. It is most commonl ...
s in his right elbow kept him from pitching and playing
shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...
, he learned how to field left-handed. A growth spurt prior to his senior year of high school caused him to draw interest from the
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
and
teams, but Velasquez opted to focus on baseball on the advice of a
scout
Scout may refer to:
Youth movement
*Scout (Scouting), a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement
**Scouts (The Scout Association), section for 10-14 year olds in the United Kingdom
**Scouts BSA, sectio ...
for the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
. The Astros selected him in the second round of the
2010 MLB Draft
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.
First-round selections
The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team pic ...
, and Velasquez chose to pitch for them rather than honor his commitment to play
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...
as a shortstop for
Cal State Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF or Cal State Fullerton) is a public university in Fullerton, California. With a total enrollment of more than 41,000, it has the largest student body of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) ...
. He was assigned to the
Greeneville Astros
The Greeneville Astros were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Rookie-level Appalachian League from 2004 to 2017. They represented the town of Greeneville, Tennessee, though Pioneer Park, their home stadium, was located in nearby T ...
in 2010, but underwent
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...
later that year and did not return to the field until 2012. He had a successful season with the
Quad Cities River Bandits
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium) in Davenport, Iowa, one ...
in 2013, but struggles during a three-game stretch with the
Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks were a baseball team located in Lancaster, California. They were named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and played their home games at The Hangar. From 1996 to 2020, they were members of Minor League ...
inspired him to sharpen his
curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...
. The following year, he helped take the JetHawks to a
California League
The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leag ...
championship title.
Velasquez made his major league debut in 2015, replacing
Roberto Hernández in the
starting rotation
R
rabbit ears
:Indicates a participant in the game who hears things perhaps too well for their own good. A player who becomes nervous or chokes when opposing players or fans yell at or razz them is said to have rabbit ears. Also, an umpire ...
after the latter was moved to the
bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief pitchers warm up before entering a game. A team's roster of relief pitchers is also metonymically referred to as "the bullpen". These pitchers usually wait in the bullpen if t ...
. Velasquez played one season with the Astros before he was traded to the Phillies as part of a major trade that brought
Ken Giles
Kenneth Robert Giles (born September 20, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners.
Exposed to ...
to Houston. He had a strong debut for the team,
striking out
''Striking Out'' is an Irish television legal drama series, broadcast on RTÉ, that first aired on 1 January 2017. Produced by Bl!nder F!lms for RTÉ Television, ''Striking Out'' stars Amy Huberman as Dublin-based solicitor Tara Rafferty, who is ...
25 batters in his first two games, but the next few seasons were hindered by injury, including a season-ending finger injury in 2017. By 2020, Velasquez's inconsistent performance had placed his role on the Phillies roster in question, and he took advantage of the
MLB's pause to diversify his pitch repertoire and improve his efficacy against batters. Since then, he has alternated between starting games and relief appearances, depending on the needs of the team. The Phillies released him in September 2021 and he finished the season with the Padres before signing with the White Sox before the 2022 season.
Early life
Velasquez was born on June 7, 1992, in
Montclair, California
Montclair is a city in the Pomona Valley, in southwestern San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino County, California. The population was 36,664 in the 2010 United States Census.
History
The earliest known inhabitants of the area wer ...
.
His father Leonard worked as a package delivery driver for the
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service (UPS, stylized as ups) is an American multinational corporation, multinational package delivery, shipping & receiving and supply chain management company founded in 1907. Originally known as the American Messenger Company ...
(UPS), though he sometimes worked four jobs at once to provide for Velasquez and his brothers. Vince's mother Juanita, meanwhile, worked as a hospital billing supervisor.
In addition to playing as a
shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...
and
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
for the Garey High School baseball team in
Pomona, California
Pomona is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Pomona is located in the Pomona Valley, between the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 151,713. The main campus of California State Polyte ...
, Velasquez served as the
quarterback
The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...
for the school
team. As a sophomore, Velasquez developed
bone spur
An exostosis, also known as bone spur, is the formation of new bone on the surface of a bone. Exostoses can cause chronic pain ranging from mild to debilitatingly severe, depending on the shape, size, and location of the lesion. It is most commonl ...
s in his right elbow, which made it impossible to pitch or play in the infield. Inspired by the story of
Billy Wagner
William Edward Wagner (born July 25, 1971), nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He pitched for the Houston Astros (1995–2003), Philadelphia Phil ...
, who became a left-handed pitcher after breaking his right arm as a child, Velasquez became a
center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the c ...
and learned how to throw left-handed. Between his junior and senior season, Velasquez underwent a
growth spurt
Human height or stature is the distance from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head in a human body, standing erect. It is measured using a stadiometer, in centimetres when using the metric system or SI system, or feet and inches when u ...
that took him from to , and the school soccer team expressed interest in making him a
center midfielder. A
scout
Scout may refer to:
Youth movement
*Scout (Scouting), a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement
**Scouts (The Scout Association), section for 10-14 year olds in the United Kingdom
**Scouts BSA, sectio ...
for the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
dissuaded Velasquez from pursuing other sports, warning him that an injury in football or soccer would compromise his baseball career.
As a junior in 2009, Velasquez was named the Garey High School
Most Valuable Player
In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
. On the mound, he posted a 6–1
win–loss record
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
, with a 1.89
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA); at the plate, he
batted .608 with 14
doubles, 29
runs batted in
A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the bat ...
(RBIs), and 18
stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base to which they are not entitled and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe or ...
s.
Velasquez pitched his first
complete game
In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
on May 21, 2010, against the
San Dimas High School
San Dimas High School is a secondary school located in San Dimas, California, in the United States. It is part of the Bonita Unified School District. Most of the students come from Lone Hill Middle School which shares the same city block as the ...
Saints, the reigning
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is the governing body for high school sports in the U.S. state of California. CIF membership includes both public and private high schools. Unlike most other state organizations, it does not have a s ...
(CIF)
Southern Section
The California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section (CIF-SS) is the governing body for high school athletics in most of Southern California and is the largest of the ten sections that comprise the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF ...
division champions. He
struck out
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is denot ...
17 batters in the 9–1 victory, striking out every batter he faced at least once, and held the Saints to three hits, two walks, and one
unearned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run that was fully enabled by the offensive team's production in the face of competent play from the defensive team. Conversely, an unearned run is a run that would not have been scored without the aid of an err ...
. Less than a week later, Velasquez was named to the 2010
Inland Valley
The Inland Empire (IE) is a metropolitan area and region inland of and adjacent to coastal Southern California, centering around the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, and bordering Los Angeles County to the west. It includes the cities o ...
High School All-Star game.
Professional career
Minor League career
The
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) selected Velasquez in the second round, 58th overall, of the
2010 MLB Draft
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.
First-round selections
The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team pic ...
.
At the time, he had already committed to play
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...
as a shortstop for
Cal State Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF or Cal State Fullerton) is a public university in Fullerton, California. With a total enrollment of more than 41,000, it has the largest student body of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) ...
, but he chose to sign with the Astros after the team indicated that they would prefer him as a pitcher.
Velasquez signed with the team on June 22, 2010, the day after his high school graduation, and was assigned to the
Rookie
A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year).
In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...
Greeneville Astros
The Greeneville Astros were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Rookie-level Appalachian League from 2004 to 2017. They represented the town of Greeneville, Tennessee, though Pioneer Park, their home stadium, was located in nearby T ...
of the
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wood bats, its season runs from ...
. Velasquez pitched in eight games during his rookie season, including six
starts. He posted a 2–2 record and a 3.07 ERA in Greeneville, striking out 25 batters in
innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched (IP) are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher is on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one innin ...
.
Velasquez underwent
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...
in 2010, citing "overuse".
He contemplated abandoning baseball after the injury, but was encouraged to continue by his father. Velasquez reported to
spring training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
early in 2011, building up the strength to throw . He missed the 2011
Minor League Baseball season entirely, instead practicing in
bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief pitchers warm up before entering a game. A team's roster of relief pitchers is also metonymically referred to as "the bullpen". These pitchers usually wait in the bullpen if t ...
sessions and in the Astros' instructional league. Velasquez regained his pitch velocity quickly after the surgery. His fastball speed jumped from to , but it took him the season to regain control. He was assigned to the
Class A Short-Season
Class A Short Season (officially Short-Season A) was a level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States from 1965 through 2020. In the hierarchy of minor league classifications, it was below Triple-A, Double-A, Class A-Advanced (cre ...
Tri-City ValleyCats
The Tri-City ValleyCats (often shortened to Cats) are a professional independent baseball team based in Troy, New York. The Tri-City name refers to the three nearby cities of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy which make up New York State's Capital D ...
in 2012, with the Astros believing that a shorter season would help Velasquez ease back into pitching. He started nine games that season, posting a 4–1 record and a 3.35 ERA while striking out 51 batters in innings.
After spending the offseason building his strength and working on improving his
strikeout-to-walk ratio
In baseball statistics, strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) is a measure of a pitcher's ability to control pitches, calculated as strikeouts divided by bases on balls.
A hit by pitch is not counted statistically as a walk, and therefore not counted ...
, Velasquez began the 2013 season with the
Class A Quad Cities River Bandits
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium) in Davenport, Iowa, one ...
. His preseason work proved successful; in his first 75 innings, Velasquez led the
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...
with 88 strikeouts. By the time that he was promoted to the
Class A-Advanced
High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...
Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks were a baseball team located in Lancaster, California. They were named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and played their home games at The Hangar. From 1996 to 2020, they were members of Minor League ...
that August, Velasquez had posted a 9–4 record with a 3.19 ERA at Quad Cities, while his 123 strikeouts in 110 innings were good enough for a league-leading 10.06
strikeouts per nine innings pitched
In baseball statistics, strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9, SO/9, or SO/9IP) is the mean of strikeouts (or Ks) by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by multiplying the number of strikeouts by nine, and dividing by the numb ...
. Velasquez stumbled in his promotion to Lancaster, however, going 0–2 with a 6.14 ERA in his three starts. He realized that, at higher levels of baseball, simply having a strong fastball was insufficient to strike out batters, and he spent the offseason working on a
curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...
to supplement his primary pitch.
Going into the 2014 season, ''
Baseball America
''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...
'' ranked Velasquez as the sixth-highest prospect in the Astros'
farm system
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...
. He returned to Lancaster to start the season as part of an eight-man rotation that alternated between starting games and pitching in
relief
Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the ...
. Although Velasquez missed two months of the season with a groin injury, 2014 proved to be a breakout season for him. He started seven games and appeared 12 times in relief, posting a 4.37 ERA in the process. Velasquez also helped take Lancaster to the
California League
The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leag ...
playoffs. Their performance in the first half of the season led to a
bye for the first playoff round before they went on to sweep the
Inland Empire 66ers
The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The 66ers are based in San Bernardino, California, and play at San Manuel Stadium.
Franchise ...
in the South Division finals. Velasquez pitched in Game 1 of the South Division series, allowing only two hits in six innings of a 7–3 victory. He went on to start Game 3 of the championship series against the
Visalia Rawhide
The Visalia Rawhide are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Visalia, California, and have played their home games at Valley Strong Ballpark since their ...
, earning a
no decision
A no decision (sometimes written no-decision) is one of either of two sports statistics scenarios; one in baseball and softball, and the other in boxing and related combat sports.
Baseball and softball
A starting pitcher who leaves a game withou ...
in the Jethawks' 5–4
walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. For a home run to end the game, it must be hit in the bottom of the final inning of the game and generate enough runs to exceed the opponent's score. Because the opponent will not ...
win. Lancaster went on to take the California League title, their second championship in their 19-year history.
Following the 2014 season, Velasquez played in the
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season sports league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are fill ...
with the
Salt River Rafters
The Salt River Rafters are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick near Scottsdale, Arizona. The ballpark is also the spring training facility o ...
. After giving up four hits and three runs in one inning, Velasquez left his final scheduled start of the season with a strained
latissimus dorsi muscle
The latissimus dorsi () is a large, flat muscle on the back that stretches to the sides, behind the arm, and is partly covered by the trapezius on the back near the midline. The word latissimus dorsi (plural: ''latissimi dorsorum'') comes from L ...
. He went 2–1 with the team, with a 4.85 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
Houston Astros
Prior to the 2015 season, Velasquez was promoted to the
Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team is owned by ...
. There, he went 3–0 with a 1.37 ERA in his first five starts, striking out 37 batters and allowing 15 hits in innings. Meanwhile, veteran starting pitcher
Roberto Hernández disappointed for the Astros, going 2–5 with a 5.18 ERA in his first 11 starts. On June 8, 2015, the Astros moved Hernández to the bullpen and called up Velasquez to take his place in the rotation. He made his major league debut on June 10, pitching five
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
innings against the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
before the bullpen gave up three home runs, leading the Astros to a 4–1 loss. With the acquisition of
Scott Kazmir
Scott Edward Kazmir (; born January 24, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics ...
in July, the Astros moved Velasquez to the bullpen, where the shorter innings requirement improved his velocity and focus on the mound. Velasquez played in 19 games with the Astros as a rookie in 2015, starting seven games and
finishing five. He posted a 1–1 record for the season, with a 4.37 ERA and 58 strikeouts in innings.
Philadelphia Phillies
2016
On December 9, 2015, Velasquez was part of a massive trade with the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
. Velasquez and fellow pitchers
Mark Appel
Mark Stewart Appel (born July 15, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Prior to joining the Phillies he also played in the Houston Astros organization.
After being drafted out of high s ...
,
Thomas Eshelman
Thomas Darwin Eshelman (born June 20, 1994) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current pitching coach in the San Diego Padres organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019. He ...
, Harold Arauz, and
Brett Oberholtzer
Brett Raymond Oberholtzer (born July 1, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Angels. He also played in the Chinese Profe ...
, were sent to Philadelphia in exchange for prospect
Jonathan Arauz and
closer Ken Giles
Kenneth Robert Giles (born September 20, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners.
Exposed to ...
. It was
Matt Klentak
Matthew Klentak (born August 14, 1980) is an American baseball front office executive who served as the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball from October 2015 to October 2020. He also previously served as the as ...
’s first major trade as the Phillies'
general manager
A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...
; he used Giles as a bargaining chip to attempt a rebuild of a struggling team.
Velasquez debuted with the Phillies on April 9, 2016, pitching six shutout innings in a 1–0 win against the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
. Striking out nine batters in the process, Velasquez became the first Phillies pitcher to strike out at least that many in his team debut since
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III (May 14, 1977 – November 7, 2017) was an American professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies between 1998 and 2013. His nicknam ...
in 2010. He continued to impress in his following start, fanning a career-high 16 batters in a 3–0 victory over the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
. Velasquez was only the second pitcher since 2000 to pitch a shutout game with 16 or more strikeouts and zero walks; the other,
Max Scherzer
Maxwell Martin Scherzer (born July 27, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and L ...
, struck out 17 in a
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
the year prior. Striking out 25 in his first two Phillies starts, Velasquez surpassed
Jim Bunning
James Paul David Bunning (October 23, 1931 – May 26, 2017) was an American professional baseball pitcher and politician who represented Kentucky in both chambers of the United States Congress. He was the sole Major League Baseball athlete to ha ...
, who fanned 20 in 1964, for the franchise record.
Through his first 11 starts with the Phillies, Velasquez posted a 5–2 record with a 3.67 ERA. His strong performance came to a halt on June 8, when Velasquez abruptly left after two pitches in a game against the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
with a strained right biceps. Velasquez was placed on the 15-day
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
on June 10, returning to the active roster 17 days later on June 27. In his final start of 2016, Velasquez allowed three runs, two earned, in seven innings against the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
. The Phillies shut Velasquez down for the season on September 4, after the pitcher threw a career-high 131 innings of work in 24 starts. He went 8–6 for his rookie season, with a 4.12 ERA and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
2017
Velasquez was named to the Phillies' 2017
opening day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent years ...
roster as the fourth starter in a five-man rotation with
Jeremy Hellickson
Jeremy Robert Hellickson (born April 8, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Na ...
,
Jerad Eickhoff
Jerad Joseph Eickhoff ( ; born July 2, 1990), is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. Eickhoff was drafted by ...
,
Clay Buchholz
Clay Daniel Buchholz (born August 14, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Toronto Blue Jays. Buchholz made h ...
, and
Aaron Nola
Aaron Michael Nola (born June 4, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Nola was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and played baseball alongside his older brother Austin. H ...
. In his first start of the season, Velasquez struck out 10 batters in four innings, becoming the first Phillies player of the modern era to record a double-digit number of strikeouts in four or fewer innings pitched, and the first starter to strike out 10 or more batters in the first four innings of a game since
Cole Hamels
Colbert Michael Hamels (born December 27, 1983), nicknamed "Hollywood", is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (2006–2015), Texas Rangers ( ...
in 2006.
However, he had to be taken out after throwing 94 pitches in those four innings, including 25 in the first inning alone, and the Phillies ultimately lost to the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
7–6.
The 2017 season was hindered by injury for Velasquez. First, on May 30, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right elbow flexor strain suffered in the second inning of a game against the
Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The franc ...
. On August 10, he exited a game 32 pitches into an ultimate 10–0 loss to the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
, suffering bruising and numbness in his right middle finger. On August 22, the Phillies announced that Velasquez was suffering from restricted blood flow to the finger, and that he would be placed on the 60-day disabled list while he recovered from surgery. He made 15 starts in 2017, posting a 2–7 record and a 5.13 ERA in 72 innings.
2018
In 2018, Velasquez was part of an opening day rotation that was undergoing several changes:
Jake Arrieta
Jacob Joseph Arrieta (born March 6, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres.
Arrieta played college ...
, despite being scheduled to pitch on April 8, was not officially named to the 25-man roster, while Eickhoff began the season on the injured list and Eflin was optioned to make room for
Ben Lively
Edward Bennett Lively (born March 5, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Kansas City Royals and in the K ...
. On June 30, a
line drive
In the sports of baseball and softball, a batted ball is a pitch that has been contacted by the batter's bat. Batted balls are either fair or foul, and can be characterized as a fly ball, pop-up, line drive, or ground ball. In baseball, a fou ...
off the bat of
Adam Eaton hit Velasquez in his right arm, requiring the pitcher to pull off his glove and make a left-handed throw to first base. After successfully making the play, Velasquez fell to the ground in pain from the injury, and was placed on the disabled list until July 11. The line drive incident came in the middle of a successful stretch for Velasquez, who boasted a 2.38 ERA and held his opponents to a .134 batting average in six starts between mid-June and mid-July, while improving his pace between pitches and his pitches per inning. As the season went on, however, Velasquez's performance became inconsistent, with high pitch counts in the early innings and worse luck against hitters. Velasquez pitched innings in 2018, striking out 161 batters, and posted a 9–12 record with a 4.85 ERA in 30 starts.
2019
On January 11, 2019, shortly before the arbitration deadline, Velasquez signed a one-year, $2.249 million contract with the team. After recording a 1.99 ERA in his first four starts, Velasquez allowed 18 base runners, four home runs, and eight runs in a span of innings before he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain on May 11. His difficulty in keeping batters off base came to a head on May 7, when Velasquez ignored catcher
J. T. Realmuto
Jacob Tyler Realmuto ( ; born March 18, 1991) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Between 2014 and 2018, he played in MLB for the Miami Marlins.
Realmuto was born in Del Ci ...
's pitch calling and proceeded to give up three home runs in a span of seven batters. The
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...
took the game 6–0. On June 28, Velasquez both struck out his 500th career batter and recorded his first
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
as a batter, although he and the Phillies ultimately lost 6–2 to the Marlins.
On August 3, when a game against the White Sox went into the
14th inning, the understaffed Phillies placed Velasquez in left field and allowed outfielder
Roman Quinn
Roman Tredarian Quinn (born May 14, 1993) is an American professional baseball center fielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays.
Quinn grew up in an athletic famil ...
to pitch. Although the White Sox ultimately won in the 15th inning, Velasquez kept the game alive when his throw from left field to home plate successfully threw out
José Abreu. It was the first time that a major league pitcher recorded an outfield assist since
Ned Garver
Ned Franklin Garver (December 25, 1925 – February 26, 2017) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Browns (1948–1952), the Detroit Tigers (1952–1956), the Kansas City Athle ...
in 1950.
Velasquez finished the season with a 7–8 record and a 4.91 ERA in 33 games (23 starts), as well as 130 strikeouts in innings.
2020
Going into the 2020 season, Velasquez spent spring training in competition with
Nick Pivetta
Nicholas Johncarlo Pivetta (born February 14, 1993) is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Washington Nationals selected Pivetta in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB draft. He was tra ...
for the fifth place in the Phillies' starting rotation. When the season was suspended indefinitely due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, Velasquez continued to practice his pitching so that, when MLB returned to play, he could make a strong return to the mound. He undertook a series of pitching lessons with assistant coach
David Lundquist
David Bruce Lundquist Jr. (born June 4, 1973) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current bullpen coach for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). During his big league playing career, Lundquist pitched for ...
over
FaceTime
FaceTime is a Proprietary software, proprietary videotelephony product developed by Apple Inc. FaceTime is available on supported iOS mobile devices running iOS 4 and later and Mac computers that run and later. FaceTime supports any iOS devic ...
, with particular focus on improving his efficacy against left-handed batters.
When the season eventually began on July 24, both Velasquez and Pivetta were given opportunities to start, as
Zach Eflin
Zack or Zach may refer to:
People
* Zach (surname), various people
* Zack (surname), various people
* Zack (personal name), lists of people and fictional characters named Zack, Zach, Zac, Zak or Zakk
* Záh (gens) or Zách, a ''gens'' (clan) in th ...
was returning from injury, while
Zack Wheeler
Zachary Harrison Wheeler (born May 30, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Between 2013 and 2019, he played in MLB for the New York Mets.
Wheeler was born to a basebal ...
was on paternity leave following the birth of his first child. Velasquez debuted with a new pitch repertoire, adding a
cutter and
changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball.
The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
to his mainstay fastball and curveball. He was sent to the bullpen that August, but returned to the rotation the following week to assist in a series of
doubleheaders for the pandemic-shortened season. Velasquez played in nine games with the Phillies in the abbreviated 60-game season, starting in seven, and posted a 1–1 record with a 5.56 ERA in the process.
That December, the Phillies tendered a one-year, $4 million contract for Velasquez to pitch in the 2021 season, shortly before the 8 p.m. arbitration deadline.
2021
When the Phillies signed veteran pitchers
Matt Moore and
Chase Anderson
Robert Chase Anderson (born November 30, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies ...
during the 2020–21 offseason, they were concerned that neither would be able to regularly pitch past the fifth inning. Velasquez was moved to the bullpen, where he and
David Hale were asked to serve as
long reliever
A long reliever or long-relief pitcher is a relief pitcher in baseball who enters the game if the starting pitcher leaves the game early.
Long relievers often enter in the first three innings of a game when the starting pitcher cannot continue, w ...
s for Moore and Anderson. After Moore was placed on the
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
list, Velasquez was called to make his first start of the season on April 20, in which he gave up two runs in four innings of an eventual 5–4 walkoff loss to the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fie ...
. May proved to be the best streak of Velasquez's major-league career; he posted a 2.84 ERA in five starts before a numb index finger led to his last-minute scratch for a May 20 game against the
Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The franc ...
.
The following month, Velasquez became involved in an
ongoing MLB controversy regarding pitchers' use of foreign substances to increase spin rate and pitch control. In the third inning of a June 7 game against the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
, Velasquez lost control of a fastball, striking and accidentally fracturing the nose of opposing pitcher
Austin Voth
Austin Lee Voth ( ; born June 26, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). Voth was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the fifth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. ...
. Nationals manager
Dave Martinez
David Martinez (born September 26, 1964) is an American professional baseball coach and former outfielder who is the manager for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously served as the bench coach for the Tampa Bay ...
suggested that injuries of that sort would be more common if MLB banned the use of foreign substances that were supposed to enhance pitch grip, saying, "I understand them trying to clean some stuff up. But it's hot, it's slippery, it's sweaty. I know Velasquez didn't throw in there intentionally, but I'm afraid that if we don't come up with something unified for everybody, you'll see a lot more of that."
The Phillies moved Velasquez back to the bullpen at the
trading deadline
In professional sports within the United States and Canada, a trade is a sports league transaction between sports clubs involving the exchange of player rights from one team to another. Though player rights are the primary trading assets, draft p ...
, as he failed to pitch past the fourth inning in nine of his 17 starts for the season. He went onto the injured list with a blistered finger on August 2, and was in the midst of a series of minor-league rehab assignments when he was
designated for assignment
Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must within seven days, return the pla ...
by the Phillies on September 11. He was unclaimed by other MLB teams on
waivers, and was subsequently released into
free agency
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
. At the time of his release, Velasquez had a 3–6 record and a 5.95 ERA in innings.
San Diego Padres
On September 15, 2021, the day after his release from the Phillies, Velasquez signed a minor league deal with the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
. The team told Velasquez that they intended to use him as a reliever, but an injury to
Blake Snell
Blake Ashton Snell (born December 4, 1992), is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Tampa Bay Rays selected Snell in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He ma ...
left the Padres in need of an additional starting pitcher. Velasquez was called up for a start on September 17 against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up four earned runs and taking the loss in an 8–2 defeat. He pitched innings in the Padres' rotation, allowing 12 earned runs and increasing his overall 2021 ERA to 6.30 for the year. Velasquez became a free agent at the end of the season.
Chicago White Sox
On March 14, 2022, Velasquez signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On December 13, 2022, Velasquez signed a one-year contract with the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
.
Pitcher profile
Throughout his pitching career, Velasquez has relied heavily on a
four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the hardest (i.e., fastest) ball thrown by a pitcher. It is ca ...
with an average speed of , paired with a
slider
Slider or Sliders may refer to:
Arts
* K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise
* ''The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex
* Sliders (TV series), ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy t ...
. Together, those two balls made up more than 87% of pitches he threw in 2019. At the end of the season, Velasquez and manager
Joe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi (born October 14, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Girardi played the catcher position for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and St. ...
agreed that the pitcher would need to expand his repertoire and "learn to locate something away from righties and in on lefties". He has since expanded his pitches, adding a curveball and changeup while replacing his slider with a cutter.
Velasquez's major league performance has been inconsistent; in 2018, his ERA was 5.70 in his first six starts, 3.51 for the middle 11, and 8.45 in the last nine. One problem that has followed him throughout his career has been a high pitch count, which in turn limits his depth. Until the 2021 season, Velasquez had never made three or more starts in a row where he lasted five innings and held the opposing team to one run or less.
Personal life
Velasquez's two older brothers, Leonard Jr. and Christopher, followed their father Leonard Sr. into the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
, where they served in the
Iraq War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Iraq War {{Nobold, {{lang, ar, حرب العراق (Arabic) {{Nobold, {{lang, ku, شەڕی عێراق (Kurdish languages, Kurdish)
, partof = the Iraq conflict (2003–present), I ...
.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velasquez, Vince
1992 births
Living people
Baseball players from California
Chicago White Sox players
Corpus Christi Hooks players
Greeneville Astros players
Gulf Coast Astros players
Houston Astros players
Indianapolis Indians players
Lancaster JetHawks players
Major League Baseball pitchers
People from Montclair, California
Philadelphia Phillies players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Quad Cities River Bandits players
Salt River Rafters players
San Diego Padres players
Sportspeople from Pomona, California
Tri-City ValleyCats players