Pirates A to Z: After bouncing to bullpen, Vince Velasquez jumps at shot to be a starter again

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Miguel Andujar to pitcher Bryse Wilson.

Player: Vince Velasquez

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Right

Age: 30 (June 7)

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 212 pounds

2022 MLB statistics: Went 3-10 with a 5.18 ERA, 1.51 WHIP in 121 2/3 innings over 29 appearances, including 22 starts, with the Chicago White Sox.

Contract: One year, $3.15 million.

Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Dec. 13.

This past season: Velasquez has had some incredible moments in his eight-year career, but he’s bounced back and forth from the starting rotation to the bullpen the past two seasons.

Velasquez remains confident because of his rare talent.

A shortstop prospect who was committed to Cal State Fullerton, he signed with the Houston Astros in 2010 after they drafted him as a pitcher.

Velasquez was their No. 6 prospect when the Astros included him in a blockbuster trade along with pitchers Mark Appel — the No. 1 overall pick in 2012 — Thomas Eshelman, Harold Arauz and Brett Oberholtzer to Philadelphia for closer Ken Giles and prospect Jonathan Arauz in December 2015.

Velasquez had some electric performances with the Phillies, where he recorded 25 strikeouts in his first two starts in 2016. After fanning nine in six innings in his debut, he struck out 16 in a three-hit shutout of the San Diego Padres in his second game.

In August 2019, the Phillies put Velasquez in left field in the 14th inning against the White Sox and he threw out Jose Abreu at home plate to become the first pitcher to record an outfield assist since 1950. He also made a dazzling diving catch to rob Eloy Jimenez of a hit.

Vince Velasquez is a pitcher.

He is playing left field.

He just threw a runner out at the plate.

Awesome. pic.twitter.com/bDSsrfVZBq

— MLB (@MLB) August 3, 2019

“That’s in the back pocket, man,” Velasquez said with a laugh Tuesday at PNC Park after signing with the Pirates. “My athleticism is what’s really gotten me by throughout the years. I’ve always been one of those cats where I could play any sport — and I’m ambidextrous, too.”

Velasquez isn’t kidding. When he took a 96-mph line drive by Adam Eaton off his right forearm in June 2018, Velasquez got up and threw Eaton out with his left hand.

Vince Velasquez with the play of the year! pic.twitter.com/FpMxq7Sgwh

— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) June 30, 2018

But the Phillies expected more of what they saw in his first two starts, and Velasquez admitted that he’s watched his 16-K game “a handful of times, maybe a couple more.”

“Oh, I watch it,” Velasquez said. “I don’t really dwell on the past, but I think that’s something you can really learn from. As much as I’d love to go out and strike out 17 or 18, whatever it may be, that’s just not my goal anymore. I think it’s more how can I be an effective pitcher, get outs and hand the ball to the bullpen whenever it’s needed, knowing I did my job.”

Remember that time in 2016 when Vince Velasquez pitched a 16 K complete game shutout? We need that Vince Velasquez to show up tonight. pic.twitter.com/o8CJitzK6K

— Did the Phillies Lose? (@DidthePhilslose) September 25, 2020

After going 30-40 with a 4.93 ERA in 133 games (116 starts) over six seasons with the Phillies, they designated Velasquez for assignment Sept. 11, 2021. The Padres picked him up, and he went 0-3 with an 8.58 ERA in four starts.

When Velasquez signed a one-year, $3-million contract with the White Sox in March, they were looking for a fifth starter after All-Star right-hander Carlos Rodon signed with the San Francisco Giants.

Between ineffectiveness and injuries, Velasquez struggled through the first four months of the season. He posted a 5.79 ERA in his first seven starts, when he pitched into the sixth inning only once, gave up seven home runs and allowed opponents to slash .271/.341/.496.

“Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned,” Velasquez said, “but you’ve got to make the best of what you’ve got.”

After tossing three scoreless innings in relief in a 16-3 loss to Boston on May 24, Velasquez spent the first of two stints on the 15-day injured list. A left groin strain in June kept him out until June 15, when he struck out three and allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings in a 13-0 win over Detroit.

That would be his last start.

Vince Velasquez carving up MVPs. pic.twitter.com/NOoOGH6PFL

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 30, 2022

The White Sox moved Velasquez to the bullpen, where he made five appearances before going on the IL in July, this time with a blister on his right index finger. In his final 13 appearances, including one start, opponents slashed .212/.270/.346 against Velasquez. Over his final 11 appearances, he had a 2.92 ERA with 24 strikeouts, a .176 batting average against and 0.93 WHIP.

His 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings, however, was the lowest of his career. Velasquez relied less on his four-seam fastball, which sits at 93.2 mph, and upped his usage of the slider from 13.8% to 22.5% while lowering his usage of his changeup from 15.3% to 8.7% of his pitches.

“Going into the season, I realized how effective my slider was,” Velasquez said. “You have to learn how to pitch off of certain sequences and that’s the art of pitching. You have to keep them off balance, which is very cliche, but it’s part of baseball. Hitters are doing the homework and you’ve got to do your own. You’ve got to critique yourself. When you make a silly mistake, you’re the lone survivor out there on the mountain and you got to realize you got to control everything. It’s a matter of going out there, breathing through it and and being effective.”

The future: When the Pirates agreed to a one-year deal with Velasquez during the Winter Meetings, there was debate about whether he would be a starter or middle reliever.

The Pirates return five pitchers who made at least 18 starts last season — Mitch Keller, JT Brubaker, Roansy Contreras, Zach Thompson and Bryse Wilson — as well as late additions in Johan Oviedo and Luis Ortiz.

When formally announcing the signing of Velasquez, general manager Ben Cherington answered that question by saying in a statement that Velasquez would join the starting rotation.

“He has a starter’s repertoire,” Cherington said, “and we are looking forward to working with him and watching him start games in black and gold.”

That offer prompted Velasquez to make “a quick decision” to sign with the Pirates, who had pursued right-hander Kyle Gibson before he elected to sign a one-year, $10 million contract with Baltimore.

“I realized the opportunity that was being given was definitely something I wanted to advantage of,” Velasquez said, acknowledging that he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jordan Lyles, Tyler Anderson and Jose Quintana as pitchers who reinvigorated their careers as starters with the Pirates. “That’s definitely in the back of my mind, realizing that I can definitely be one of those assets, one of the guys who come in. Potentially be a leader but also take advantage of that opportunity that’s being granted.”

Vince Velasquez hopes to be the next free agent pitcher to turn a one-year contract with the Pirates into a chance to resuscitate his career as a starting pitcher. pic.twitter.com/z7f1RVMaVH

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) December 13, 2022

Velasquez isn’t very familiar with the Pirates’ roster but said he has embraced their motto of “the grit and the grind.” Velasquez also has been communicating with Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin, with whom he had a “heart-to-heart talk” about becoming more consistent.

Despite bouncing between the starting rotation and the bullpen, Velasquez said he’s maintained a starter’s mentality. As he stood in the Pirates’ clubhouse, he turned and pointed to a Roberto Clemente quote on the wall behind him.

“I realized coming into this organization that I do have that opportunity,” Velasquez said. “So, I mean, just like that quote right there, ‘Anytime you have an opportunity to make a difference in the world …’ I’m here to make a difference for myself, but also for the team. There’s really no independence here; it’s not just me. I’m here have an impact on everybody, to show that there is opportunity, there is possibility, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And that’s that’s my whole mentality, knowing that this was an opportunity I needed to take.”