Andrew Velazquez

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Not to be confused with Andrew Velasquez.
Andrew Velazquez
Andrew Velazquez (49488713108) (cropped).jpg
Velazquez with the Indians in February 2020
New York Yankees – No. 71
infield
Born: (1994-07-14) July 14, 1994 (age 27)
The Bronx, New York
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 2018, for the Tampa Bay Rays
MLB statistics
(through August 21, 2021)
Batting average.178
Home runs1
Runs batted in9
Teams

Andrew Velazquez (born July 14, 1994) is an American professional baseball infielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, and Baltimore Orioles.

Amateur career[]

Velazquez is from Morris Park in the Bronx, New York City.[1] He attended Fordham Preparatory School, where he played for the school's baseball team. He played as a center fielder until his senior year, when he became the team's starting shortstop.[2] In his senior year, the New York Post named Velazquez their All-Bronx Baseball Player of the Year.[3] Velazquez also competed on the Prep's track and field team, as a sprinter and high jumper. He received an athletic scholarship to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) to play college baseball for the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Professional career[]

Arizona Diamondbacks[]

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the seventh round, with the 243rd overall selection, of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[2][4] He signed with the Diamondbacks, receiving a $200,000 signing bonus, bypassing his commitment to Virginia Tech.[5] That year, he made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Diamondbacks of the Arizona League and the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League.[6][7]

In 2013, Velazquez was assigned to the South Bend Silver Hawks of the Class A Midwest League. For the season, he had a .260 batting average, but had almost three times as many strikeouts as walks.[8] Returning to South Bend in 2014, Velazquez set a Minor League Baseball record with his 72nd consecutive game reaching base, breaking the record of 71 set by Kevin Millar in 1997 and tied by Kevin Youkilis in 2003.[9][10] His streak, which lasted from April 22 to July 16, ended at 74 consecutive games.[11][12] After the season, Velazquez was named the Midwest League's Prospect of the Year.[12]

Tampa Bay Rays[]

On November 14, 2014, the Diamondbacks traded Velazquez and Justin Williams to the Tampa Bay Rays for Jeremy Hellickson.[13][14] He began the 2015 season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, but underwent surgery in May to repair a broken hamate bone.[15] He finished the season hitting .290/.343/.360 in 47 games. He returned to Charlotte in 2016, where he finished an injury shortened season hitting .262/.313/.308 in 75 games. Velazquez played for the Montgomery Biscuits of the Class AA Southern League in 2017 and Montgomery and the Durham Bulls of the Class AAA International League in 2018.[16]

On September 2, 2018, the Rays promoted Velazquez to the major leagues.[17] He recorded three hits in ten at-bats playing off the bench. Despite only playing 34.2 innings and making only one start, Velazquez played at least one inning at six positions (second base, shortstop, third base, left field, center field, and right field).[18]

Cleveland Indians[]

On July 3, 2019, the Rays traded Velazquez to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for international bonus pool allotments.[19] In a corresponding move the Indians designated Chih-Wei Hu for assignment.[20]

Velazquez was designated for assignment on February 14, 2020, when they signed Domingo Santana.[21]

Baltimore Orioles[]

Velazquez was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on February 19, 2020.[22] In 2020 for the Orioles, Velazquez slashed .159/.274/.206 with no home runs and three RBIs.[23] On October 29, 2020, Velazquez was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.[24] He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.[25]

New York Yankees[]

On December 16, 2020, Velazquez signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees organization.[26] On July 16, 2021, Velazquez was released by the Yankees organization, but re-signed with the team the next day on a new minor league deal.[27] On August 9, the Yankees promoted Velazquez to the major leagues.[28] On August 10, 2021, Velazquez scored his first Yankees run on a wild pitch.

Velazquez would cement his legacy as a local hero, (nicknamed "The Bronx Kid"[29] by Yankees broadcasters), and fan favorite in a critical three game set against the Boston Red Sox. In seven at bats, he tallied three run-scoring hits with 4 RBIs, (one run of his own, and a stolen base). After closing out the final game with a diving catch at shortstop and a difficult throw to first base from deep in the hole, his teammates awarded him the well-deserved "game belt" in recognition of his contributions to the series sweep that saw the team move into first place of the Wild Card standings; two games ahead of the rival Red Sox.[30]

On August 21, Velazquez hit his first career home run during a home game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium off pitcher Ralph Garza.[31][32]

References[]

  1. ^ https://nypost.com/2021/01/20/bronxs-andrew-velazquez-will-bust-my-ass-to-make-yankees/
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Walder, Seth; Abramson, Mitch (June 5, 2012). "Fordham Prep shortstop Andrew Velazquez selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft: Rams star is 243rd player taken overall, first in NYC". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  3. ^ Braziller, Zach (June 22, 2012). "The Post's All-Bronx baseball honors". New York Post. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  4. ^ Raimondi, Marc (June 6, 2012). "Fordham Prep star is highest CHSAA baseball draft pick in decade". New York Post. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  5. ^ Walder, Seth (June 12, 2012). "Andrew Velazquez, shortstop at Fordham Prep HS, agrees in principal to sign with Arizona Diamondbacks and pass on scholarship to Virginia Tech: Velazquez to get $200,000 signing bonus, plus incentives and glove deal". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  6. ^ Baragona, John (August 22, 2012). "Diamondbacks Minor League Round-Up 8/21: Andrew Velazquez Promoted to Missoula". AZ Snake Pit. SB Nation. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  7. ^ "Fordham Prep alum flies through minor league baseball". News 12 The Bronx. September 6, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2014. (subscription required)
  8. ^ Braziller, Zach (July 16, 2014). "Bronx slugger a hit after breaking minor-league on base record". New York Post. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  9. ^ Axisa, Mike (July 14, 2014). "D-Backs prospect Andrew Velazquez sets minor-league on-base record". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  10. ^ Goff, Chris (July 13, 2014). "South Bend star makes history at Parkview Field". The Journal Gazette. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  11. ^ McManaman, Bob (August 1, 2014). "Diamondbacks prospect Andrew Velazquez turning heads in minors". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Dykstra, Sam (August 25, 2014). "Farmer, Velazquez named MWL All-Stars: Tigers right-hander, D-backs shortstop headline postseason honors". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  13. ^ Gilbert, Steve (November 14, 2014). "D-backs land Hellickson for two prospects". Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  14. ^ "D-Backs acquire pitcher Hellickson from Rays". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 14, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  15. ^ "Rays Notes: McGee could join club this week". TBO.com. May 12, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  16. ^ Kinsella, Steve. "Andrew Velazquez, The Forgotten Prospect And The Jeremy Hellickson Trade". Sportstalkflorida.com. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  17. ^ "For starters: Rays at Indians, with Andrew Velazquez called up". Tampabay.com. July 26, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  18. ^ "Andrew Velazquez Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  19. ^ "Indians' Andrew Velazquez: Sent to Cleveland". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  20. ^ RotoWire Staff (July 3, 2019). "Indians' Chih-Wei Hu: Designated for assignment". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  21. ^ "Cleveland Indians sign OF Domingo Santana to $1.5 million one-year deal with club option". cleveland. February 14, 2020.
  22. ^ Todd, Jeff (February 19, 2020). "Orioles Claim Andrew Velazquez, Designate Richard Urena". MLBTradeRumors.com.
  23. ^ "Andrew Velazquez Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  24. ^ "Press release: Orioles roster moves 10/29/2020". Mlb.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  25. ^ Hilburn-Trenkle, Chris. "Full List of 2020-2021 Minor League Baseball Free Agents". www.baseballamerica.com.
  26. ^ Mark Polishuk (December 16, 2020). "Yankees Sign Andrew Velazquez To Minors Contract". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  27. ^ "Major League Baseball Transactions | MLB.com". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  28. ^ NJ.com, Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for (August 9, 2021). "Yankees, Royals lineups Monday: DJ LeMahieu out of leadoff spot, Andrew Velazquez at SS, Jameson Taillon on mound". nj.
  29. ^ https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/08/andrew-velazquez-dreamed-of-starring-for-yankees-as-bronx-kid-in-real-life-it-was-way-better.html
  30. ^ Phillips, Gary (August 20, 2021). "A Bronx Kid Is Living Something Wilder Than His Dreams". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  31. ^ "Andrew Velazquez's first home run adds to 'surreal' Yankees story". New York Post. August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  32. ^ Archive, View Author; Author, Email the; Twitter, Follow on; feed, Get author RSS (August 21, 2021). "Andrew Velazquez's first home run adds to 'surreal' Yankees story". New York Post. Retrieved August 22, 2021.

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