33 Facts About Vince Velasquez

Vincent John Velasquez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball.

Vince Velasquez has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres.

The Astros selected him in the second round of the 2010 MLB Draft, and Vince Velasquez chose to pitch for them rather than honor his commitment to play college baseball as a shortstop for Cal State Fullerton.

Vince Velasquez was assigned to the Greeneville Astros in 2010, but underwent Tommy John surgery later that year and did not return to the field until 2012.

Vince Velasquez had a successful season with the Quad Cities River Bandits in 2013, but struggles during a three-game stretch with the Lancaster JetHawks inspired him to sharpen his curveball.

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Vince Velasquez made his major league debut in 2015, replacing Roberto Hernandez in the starting rotation after the latter was moved to the bullpen.

Vince Velasquez played one season with the Astros before he was traded to the Phillies as part of a major trade that brought Ken Giles to Houston.

Vince Velasquez had a strong debut for the team, striking out 25 batters in his first two games, but the next few seasons were hindered by injury, including a season-ending finger injury in 2017.

Vince Velasquez was born on June 7,1992, in Montclair, California.

Vince Velasquez pitched his first complete game on May 21,2010, against the San Dimas High School Saints, the reigning California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section division champions.

Less than a week later, Vince Velasquez was named to the 2010 Inland Valley High School All-Star game.

Vince Velasquez signed with the team on June 22,2010, the day after his high school graduation, and was assigned to the Rookie Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League.

Vince Velasquez pitched in eight games during his rookie season, including six starts.

Vince Velasquez contemplated abandoning baseball after the injury, but was encouraged to continue by his father.

Vince Velasquez reported to spring training early in 2011, building up the strength to throw 40 feet.

Vince Velasquez missed the 2011 Minor League Baseball season entirely, instead practicing in bullpen sessions and in the Astros' instructional league.

Vince Velasquez was assigned to the Class A Short-Season Tri-City ValleyCats in 2012, with the Astros believing that a shorter season would help Velasquez ease back into pitching.

Vince Velasquez 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 to supplement his primary pitch.

Vince Velasquez returned to Lancaster to start the season as part of an eight-man rotation that alternated between starting games and pitching in relief.

Vince Velasquez started seven games and appeared 12 times in relief, posting a 4.

Vince Velasquez played in 19 games with the Astros as a rookie in 2015, starting seven games and finishing five.

On December 9,2015, Vince Velasquez was part of a massive trade with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Vince 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, struck out 17 in a no-hitter the year prior.

Vince Velasquez was named to the Phillies' 2017 opening day roster as the fourth starter in a five-man rotation with Jeremy Hellickson, Jerad Eickhoff, Clay Buchholz, and Aaron Nola.

In 2018, Vince Velasquez was part of an opening day rotation that was undergoing several changes: Jake Arrieta, 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.

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Vince Velasquez undertook a series of pitching lessons with assistant coach David Lundquist over FaceTime, with particular focus on improving his efficacy against left-handed batters.

Vince Velasquez debuted with a new pitch repertoire, adding a cutter and changeup to his mainstay fastball and curveball.

Vince Velasquez was moved to the bullpen, where he and David Hale were asked to serve as long relievers for Moore and Anderson.

Vince Velasquez was unclaimed by other MLB teams on waivers, and was released into free agency.

On September 15,2021, the day after his release from the Phillies, Vince Velasquez signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres.

On March 14,2022, Vince Velasquez signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.

Vince Velasquez has since expanded his pitches, adding a curveball and changeup while replacing his slider with a cutter.

Until the 2021 season, Vince 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.