Vince Velasquez Stats & Scouting Report

IP	763
ERA	4.883
WHIP	1.374
BB/9	3.621
SO/9	9.696

Full name Vincent John Velasquez
Born 06/07/1992 in Montclair, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 212 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Garey
Debut 06/10/2015
Drafted in the 2nd round (58th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2010 (signed for $655,830).

View Draft Report

Doctors diagnosed a stress fracture and a ligament strain in Vincent Velasquez's right elbow in January 2009, so his arm was placed in a cast for six weeks and he then went on a lengthy rehab program. He played shortstop and the outfield and even tried throwing lefthanded, but he didn't pitch last season. His first serious return to the mound was at MLB's preseason showcase in February, and he was the star of the event with a sensational one-inning stint. He fired a 93 mph fastball and added a wicked curveball and drop-dead changeup. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder's outings during the spring were uneven, to put it mildly, and he was dreadful in an early season start in front of 40 scouts. Velasquez is a legitimate two-way player and could also serve as a switch-hitting infielder at Cal State Fullerton if he doesn't sign. While his actions and arm are impressive on the left side of the infield, his range, speed and bat are not early-round material. Velasquez exhibits a loose, angular and projectable build, a fluid delivery and tremendous stuff when he's on. To sign him away from Fullerton, however, scouts will need to be convinced that Velasquez has completely committed to pitching.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Health has been the bugaboo for Velasquez going back to high school. He had a stress fracture and ligament strain in his right elbow in 2009 and didn't pitch his junior season. After he was drafted in 2010 and lured away from Cal State Fullerton for $655,830, he injured the ligament again and missed the 2011 season after having Tommy John surgery. He missed two months in 2014 with a groin injury. Velasquez's inability to stay on the mound has been frustrating. He might have the highest ceiling of Houston's pitching prospects thanks to an explosive fastball that plays beyond its 92-95 mph velocity (he tops out at 96 with late tailing life) and a plus changeup. His curveball is a below-average pitch that needs tightening, but the Astros believe he could get it to solid-average, and he throws it with requisite power. Velasquez has a loose arm and athletic body to go with an aggressive approach. His delivery features some crossfire action. Velasquez got needed extra work in the Arizona Fall League. He will spend 2015 building endurance with an aim of exceeding his career-best 125 innings. Expect Velasquez to return to high Class A Lancaster in 2015, at least to start the season.
When he's been healthy, Velasquez has been an effective pitcher, but staying healthy has been a battle. He didn't pitch as a high school junior because of a strained elbow ligament and stress fracture in his arm. After impressing scouts as both a pitcher and shortstop as a senior, he further damaged the elbow ligament in his pro debut at Rookie-level Greeneville in 2010, requiring Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2011 season. The Astros have been cautious since then, limiting Velasquez to nine starts in 2012 before letting him take a larger role in 2013. On a low Class A Quad Cities staff that included Lance McCullers Jr., Mark Appel and Josh Hader, he convinced some scouts he'll be the best of the group. Velasquez has two plus pitches now and the chance to have a third average pitch. His fastball is an easy 92-95 mph and his changeup is extremely advanced for an inexperienced pitcher. He needs to tighten his below-average, loopy curveball, but he does show the feel to spin it. Velasquez's delivery has a slight crossfire aspect to it, but otherwise he throws free and easy. He's in the picture for a crowded high Class A Lancaster rotation in 2014.
The Astros haven't had much success developing high school arms, with Jordan Lyles by far their best success story in the last decade. Velasquez is a ways away, but he has the best stuff of any recent Houston prep draft pick other than Mike Foltynewicz. Velasquez has rebounded from Tommy John surgery in the fall after his 2010 pro debut, returning in instructional league a year later. He pitched well at short-season Tri-City last summer, though he was shut down for a month after getting hammered in his ninth start. Velasquez remains loose and athletic. At his best, he sits at 91-93 mph with his fastball and throws strikes with it, though not yet with the same frequency he did in his debut. He touches some 96s and tends to pitch downhill. His changeup still shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch, as he continues to show good arm speed and feel with it. His curveball has some sharpness and grades as average, though he gets on the side of it at times. Velasquez had a stress fracture and ligament strain in his elbow as a high schooler, and he has obvious durability questions. Houston hopes he'll make it through a full season in low Class A in 2013.
Velasquez had a strong pro debut after signing for $655,830 as a second-round pick in 2010, but he hasn't pitched in a game since. He needed Tommy John surgery after the season after tearing a ligament in his elbow and missed all of 2011. He also didn't pitch as a high school junior in 2009 because of a stress fracture and strained ligament in his elbow. Velasquez returned in instructional league last fall and looked strong. He still had some rust but showed his full menu of pitches, with the only setback a bout with biceps tendinitis that prompted the Astros to skip his final start. He worked in the low 90s and touched 95 mph with his fastball in instructs, a touch better velocity than he showed prior to surgery. His fastball command was spotty, as is often the case for pitchers coming back from ligament reconstruction. Velasquez's changeup and curveball were sharp and crisp at times, though inconsistent because of his layoff. Houston wants to be careful with him, so he'll probably begin 2012 in extended spring training and stay on a carefully monitored workload. He showed the potential to be a No. 3 starter before he got hurt.
Velasquez would rank in our Astros Top 10 if not for postseason Tommy John surgery, and he's not expected to pitch until instructional league in 2011. While the track record for players recovering from that procedure is strong, Velasquez still has a long rehabilitation road ahead of him. In his brief pro debut, he showed athleticism, a projectable body and good present stuff. A two-way recruit who would have played shortstop and pitched had he made it to Cal State Fullerton, Velasquez signed for $655,830 as a second-round pick last June. He has a fluid delivery and good arm strength, showing average present fastball velocity with more to come. He sat at 88-93 mph after signing, and his curveball has some power as well. He showed an aggressive approach and willingness to attack hitters inside with his fastball. His changeup is advanced for a high school pitcher, especially one with his limited experience, and some scouts grade it as a future plus pitch. He missed much of his junior season with a stress fracture and ligament strain, though he still played shortstop and outfield and even tried throwing lefthanded. Now he'll miss another year of development.

Minor League Top Prospects

Multiple managers believed Velasquez looked like the best prospect on Lancaster's prospect-heavy staff that also included Mark Appel, Lance McCullers Jr. and Josh Hader. Velasquez hides the ball well before his fastball explodes out of his hand, jumping on hitters at 93-95 mph and peaking at 97. He spots the heater well to both sides of the plate and doesn't shy away from pitching inside. His fading, mid-80s changeup was his best secondary pitch. His breaking ball features slider action and can be plus when it's on, but it gets loopy at times. "He's under control on the mound," Lake Elsinore manager Jamie Quirk said. "He's very confident, and a strike-thrower. He's just a guy who would challenge hitters and beat them." Velasquez added to his lengthy injury rap sheet by missing more than two months from early May through late July with groin problems. He already has Tommy John surgery on his r?sum?, having missed the entire 2011 season.
Velasquez has had to battle through injury problems?he had a stress fracture in 2009 and Tommy John surgery in 2011?but he has rebounded to show excellent stuff in a solid season at Quad Cities. Velasquez has plus velocity with a fastball that sits at 90-93 mph and touches 95. His changeup is quite advanced for a pitcher in low Class A, but he needs to sharpen his loopy curveball. The lack of a consistent breaking ball is a concern, but some scouts like him more than McCullers because he seems to be a safer bet to remain a starting pitcher.
Velasquez missed all of 2011 with Tommy John surgery, but flashed good stuff upon his return in instructional leagues last fall and had a strong summer in the NY-P. He has a loose, athletic frame, good downward plane and feel for a mix of three solid pitches. Velasquez's fastball ranges from 89-95 mph with late riding life, and it's always around the zone. His 75-78 mph curveball has short 11-to-5 break and projects as a solid offering, though he sometimes struggles to stay on top of it. He also mixes in an 81-82 mph changeup with good arm speed "He does it easy and he's still a young kid," Vermont manager Rick Magnante said. "He pounded the zone twice against us. He throws three pitches for strikes right now. He was 93-95 with a legit breaking ball and an average changeup against us."
Velaquez didn't pitch as a high school junior because of a stress fracture and ligament strain in his pitching elbow. But the Astros bore down on him during his senior year, and he won the them over in a predraft workout. He missed his final start for Greeneville when scar tissue broke loose from his previous injury, causing discomfort and cutting short an impressive debut. A switch-hitting shortstop in high school, Velasquez concentrated on pitching only this year and already shows a three-pitch mix. He comes right after hitters with an 88-93 mph fastball and a 72-76 mph curveball that he can throw with tight 11-to-5 spin. He has shown some feel for a changeup, which he'll require to profile as a mid-rotation starter.

Best Tools List

Rated Best Changeup in the Houston Astros in 2014

Career Transactions

Pittsburgh Pirates transferred RHP Vince Velasquez from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Right elbow discomfort.
Pittsburgh Pirates placed RHP Vince Velasquez on the 15-day injured list. Right elbow discomfort.
Pittsburgh Pirates activated RHP Vince Velasquez from the 15-day injured list.
Pittsburgh Pirates sent RHP Vince Velasquez on a rehab assignment to Indianapolis Indians.
Pittsburgh Pirates sent RHP Vince Velasquez on a rehab assignment to Indianapolis Indians.