Hector Velazquez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #20 prospect in 2018
  Velazquez represented a considerable success in the Sox's concerted effort to expand their scouting efforts in the Mexican League–the cost of acquiring prospects is less expensive for international slot bonus purposes because only the amount paid to the player counts toward the bonus slots, while the amount paid to the team does not. The Sox acquired Velazquez's rights from Campeche after a 2016 season that saw him win the league's pitcher of the year honors for the second time in his career, believing he could emerge as a solid rotation depth option despite a lack of knockout stuff. Velazquez did just that, carving both sides of the strike zone with a sinking fastball that sat at 90 mph and topped out at 94, while mixing in enough split-changeups and sliders to stay off the barrels of hitters in both Triple-A and the big leagues. He also mixed in a cut fastball in the high-80s that scouts believe could be a tick above-average at its best. Velazquez has shown enough of a feel for pitching, command, deception, and guts to look like a solid depth starter who could emerge as No. 5 starter on some teams. Velazquez is likely to return to Triple-A Pawtucket in 2018 but could make starts in the big leagues if needed.