Position: RHP
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 06/07/1992
High School: Garey HS (Pomona, CA)
Drafted: 2nd round, 58th Overall, 2010 (Astros)
How Acquired: Free Agent
Bonus: $655,830
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: N/A
Overview
After coming up through the Astros’ system as a highly rated prospect, Velasquez spent most of the next eight years in the majors despite being consistently below average. In those eight years, he never had an ERA below 4.12 (in 2016) and had an ERA+ above 91 just once, and then only 101 (also in 2016). His career mark was 85. Throughout his career he’s had high K rates, but he’s still consistently been one of the hardest-hit pitchers in baseball. In 2022, he ranked in the first (i.e., worst) percentile in average exit velocity and barrel percentage, eighth in xSLG and tenth in hard-hit percentage. As a result, gopher balls have been a significant problem for him in many years and opponents have slugged a healthy .458 for his career. Velasquez has started 136 of his 183 career games, averaging just 4.8 innings per start. He throws four pitches: a fastball that averages 93 mph, along with a slider, curve and change. All four pitches produce swings and misses, but all four also get hit hard. According to FanGraph’s pitch values, Velasquez’ fastball has been a good pitch, but his secondary offerings have all been ineffective. He’s had a reverse platoon split during his career.
2010-14
Despite some injury interruptions, Velasquez’ pitched well up through high A ball. Baseball America consistently rated him in the top half of the Astros’ top 30 prospects, as high as fourth. He had Tommy John surgery, though, after the 2010 season, costing him all of 2011. He recovered well, although Houston shut him down for the last month of 2012, and he missed two months of 2014 with a groin injury. He consistently had a K/9 in double digits and usually had good walk rates. The Astros added him to their 40-man roster after the 2014 season.
2015-18
Velasquez missed the first month of the 2015 season, then went to AA and pitched well. Houston called him up in June and he stayed with them except for a stretch in August, serving as both a starter and reliever. After the season, the Astros sent him to Philadelphia as part of a seven-player trade. Velasquez spent most of the 2016 season with the Phillies and had his best major league season through 2022. Gopher balls did start to be a problem, though, as he allowed 21 in 131 innings. After injuries limited him to 15 starts in 2017, he set career highs in starts (30) and innings (146.2) in 2018, although he averaged fewer than five innings per start.
2019-21
In 2019-21, Velasquez’ made 23 starts and ten relief appearances. He had a lot of trouble with gopher balls, giving up one every four and a half innings in 2019. In the pandemic season, the Phillies used him only once every six to ten days. The gopher ball was a big problem, as he allowed one every four and a half innings. In 2021, Velasquez continued to have problems with injuries and home runs. He missed over a month late in the season with a blister and allowed a longball once every four innings. The Phillies finally released him in September. He caught on with the Padres for the final two weeks of the season and pitched very badly.
2022
Velasquez signed a major league deal with the White Sox during spring training. He again had injury issues, ultimately missing close to two months with a groin strain and a blister. The Sox initially used him as a starter, but he struggled to a 5.79 ERA through seven starts, so they moved him to the bullpen. He was only a little more effective there.
2023
Velasquez became a free agent after the 2022 season and the Pirates signed him. He got off to a surprising start, posting a 3.06 ERA through seven starts. He cut back sharply on fastball usage, and his slider and change became much more effective. Overall, he simply got hit much less hard. Unfortunately, Velasquez developed elbow discomfort during his seventh start, in early May. He made one ill-advised attempt to return in late May, then went on the injured list for the rest of the season. He had to have non-Tommy John surgery to correct a flexor strain and could be out for about a calendar year.
Velasquez will be a free agent in the fall. The Pirates could try to re-sign him, although he probably won’t be available until somewhere around mid-season.
Stats
Transactions
June 8, 2010: Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2nd round, 58th overall pick; signed June 25.
November 20, 2014: Contract purchased by the Houston Astros.
December 12, 2015: Traded by the Houston Astros with Brett Oberholtzer, Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman and Harold Arauz to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ken Giles and Jonathan Arauz.
September 12, 2021: Released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
September 15, 2021: Signed as a minor league free agent by the San Diego Padres.
September 17, 2021: Called up by the San Diego Padres.
November 3, 2021: Became a free agent.
March 14, 2022: Signed as a free agent by the Chicago White Sox.
November 6, 2022: Became a free agent.
December 13, 2022: Signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.