D-backs acquire Hellickson from Rays in exchange for Velazquez and Williams

PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) acquired right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (@JHell58) from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for infielder Andrew Velazquez and outfielder Justin Williams, as announced by D-backs Senior Vice President & General Manager Dave Stewart.

Hellickson, 27, was named the 2011 American League Rookie of the Year and ranked among AL leaders from 2011-13 in opponents average (10th, .242), starts (T-12th, 91), wins (T-15th, 35), ERA (16th, 3.72) and innings pitched (15th, 540.0). In his award-winning 2011 campaign, he led all Major League rookies with a 2.95 ERA (62 ER in 189.0 IP) and a .210 opponents average, while going 13-10 with 2 complete games in 29 starts. He followed up his Rookie of the Year season with 10 wins and a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2012 and 12 wins in 2013.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has gone 40-36 with a 3.78 ERA (269 ER in 640.0 IP) in 115 games (108 starts) in 5 Major League seasons with Tampa Bay. Last season, he made 13 starts with the Rays after beginning the year on the disabled list after a minor arthroscopic procedure in January to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. In his first 5 starts, he went 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA (6 ER in 26.2 IP) before ultimately going 1-5 with a 4.52 ERA (32 ER in 63.2 IP).

Hellickson was named the 2010 Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America and USA Today, Minor League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News and International League Most Valuable Pitcher after going 12-3 with a 2.45 ERA (32 ER in 117.2 IP) with Triple-A Durham. He was selected by the Rays in the fourth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of Hoover High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

Velazquez, 20, hit .290 (158-for-544) with 18 doubles, 15 triples, 9 home runs, 56 RBI and 50 stolen bases in 134 games with Single-A South Bend last season. He reached base safely in 74-straight games from April 22-July 16, and was named the Midwest League Prospect of the Year.

Williams, 19, hit .351 (102-for-291) with 12 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs and 46 RBI in a combined 74 games with Rookie-Advanced Missoula and Single-A South Bend last season.