Andrew Velazquez #8

Attended Fordham Preparatory School (Bronx, N.Y.)...Forewent his commitment to Virginia Tech University, instead signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks after being selected by the club in the seventh-round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft...Nickname is Squid...Selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the seventh-round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft...Signed a Minor League contract with the Atlanta Braves on Nov. 24, 2023.

2023

29-year-old Andrew Velazquez completed his sixth Major League season (second with Los Angeles-AL), posting a slash line of .173/.264/.284 (14-for-81) in 54 games...He hit two home runs and three doubles, while recording three RBI and 12 runs...Went 13-for-16 in stolen base attempts...Marked his second season with at least 10 stolen bases, also 2022 with Los Angeles-AL (17)...Started 24 of Los Angeles' (AL) games during the regular season - all at shortstop...Came off the bench in 30 contests, appearing 17 times as a defensive replacement, 11 times as a pinch­ runner and twice as a pinch-hitter (1-for-2, solo home run)...Began the season with Triple-A Salt Lake...Recalled by Los Angeles (AL) on June 15 (optioned June 30) and again on July 2 (optioned on Sept. 3)...Selected off waivers by Atlanta from Los Angeles (AL) on Sept. 5...Optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett later that day...Matched his career-high with three hits, July 25 at Detroit...Did so once previously, May 10, 2022 vs. Tampa Bay, with Los Angeles (AL)...Connected on the first pinch-hit home run of his career, Aug. 12 at Houston, off RHP Hector Neris...Slashed .215/.311/.347 (31-for-144) in 40 games - 23 with Los Angeles' (AL) Triple-A Salt Lake, 14 with Atlanta's Triple-A Gwinnett and three with the Arizona Complex League Angels rookie level affiliate...He hit three home runs, six doubles and two triples, while recording 13 RBI and 21 runs.. Went 8-for-9 in stolen base attempts...Hit safely in each of his first eight games with Triple-A Gwinnett and 10 of 14 games overall.

2022

In first season with the Angels set new career highs in hits (63), doubles (eight), home runs (nine), games (125), RBI (28) and stolen bases (17)...Enter the season with just one career home run...17 steals were the most by an Angels infielder since Andrelton Simmons (19) in 2017...His 11 defensive runs were good for fourth by a shortstop in the Majors and tied for ninth overall in the A.L... Posted an .831 zone rating, the top mark by an A.L. shortstop and second in the Majors...Posted a .243 (18/73) clip with runners in scoring position, which ranked fourth on the Club (min. 70 PA with RISP)...Began the season with Triple-A Salt Lake before being recalled April 12...Placed on the I.L. on Sept. 14 with a right meniscus tear...Underwent season-ending surgery Sept. 16.

2021

Claimed off waivers by the Angels from the Yankees on Nov. 5, 2021...Saw action across two stints with the Yankees...Marked fourth season appearing in the Majors and first with New York...Had contract selected and made season debut Aug. 9...In limited action, set new career highs in hits, doubles, home runs and RBI...Matched career bests in runs, triples, and stolen bases...At the Major League level, appeared in all 28 games as a shortstop...Hit his first career HR in the eighth on Aug. 21 vs. Minnesota...Became the sixth New York-born Yankee to homer for the club since 1993: Tim Locastro, Alex Rodriguez, Raul Ibañez, John Flaherty and Clay Bellinger...In 77 games with Triple-A Scranton, hit .273 with 40 runs, 20 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 46 RBI and 29 SB…At the time of his call-up, 26 stolen bases led all of Triple-A...Was a Spring Training non-roster invitee to Yankees camp.

2020

Made his first Opening Day roster…began the season with the Orioles and appeared in 40 games, batting .159 (10-for-63) with 11R, one double, one triple, three RBI, 10BB and four SB…made nine appearances as a PR and saw time at SS (30 games/19 starts), LF (seven games), CF (three games/one start) and 2B (two starts)…did not commit an error in 93 total chances overall…was optioned to the Orioles’ Alternate Site on 9/19.

2019

Appeared in 15 Major League games between the Tampa Bay Rays (10 games) and Cleveland Indians (five games); hit a combined .087 (2-for-23) with two doubles... Started the season with Triple-A Durham, appearing in 34 games for the Bulls and hitting .271/.329/.450 (35-for-129)...Acquired by the Indians from the Rays in exchange for International Bonus Slot Money on 7/3... Appeared in 21 games, across three different levels (AZL Indians Blue, AZL Indians Red, Triple-A Columbus), in the Indians system following the trade.

2018

Selected from Triple-A Durham on Sep 2, his first career major league action…made his major league debut that day at CLE, entering as a defensive replacement in center field in the 8th inning…remained with the Rays through the end of the season…appeared in 13 games across six different positions: third base (4 games, 1 start), shortstop (2 games, 1 start), second base (2 games), center field (2 games), left field (1 game) and right field (1 game)...Was used seven times as a defensive replacement, twice as a pinch-hitter and twice as a pinch-runner...On Sep 7 vs. BAL, singled off Luis Ortiz in the 7th inning for his first career hit…on Sep 10 vs. CLE, recorded his first career steal after entering the game as a pinch-runner...Between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, was successful on 31 of 34 SB attempts (91.2 pct.), and his 29 SB for Durham led the International League…ranked 2nd among Rays minor leaguers in steals...Was promoted from Montgomery to Durham on April 16...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 19 prospect in the Rays system following the season… the publication also tabbed him as the Fastest Baserunner in the IL in its Best Tools survey. 

2017

Spent the entire season with Double-A Montgomery, appearing in 108 games with 101 starts (81-SS, 14-CF, 6-2B)…marked his first career action in the outfield…tied his career high with 9 HR, and his 17 2B were one shy of matching his career high…hit .193 (22-for-114) in his first 38 games through May 25, and .254 (66-for-260) in 69 games after that…named the Southern League Player of the Week for May 29-June 4, batting .565 (13-for-23) with 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR and 10 RBI in 6 games, including 5 multi-hit efforts.

2016

Limited to 75 games with Class-A Charlotte…made his season debut on May 16 after missing over a month with a left hamstring injury…hit .254 (33-for-130) with 14 SB in 33 games for the Criollos de Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

2015

Assigned to Charlotte for his first season in the Rays organization…appeared in 47 games, plus 4 games with the GCL Rays rehabbing from a two-month absence with right wrist tendinitis… also had a pair of stints on the disabled list due to his left shoulder.

2014

Led the Midwest League with 50 SB, which ranked 7th among all minor leaguers…ranked among MWL leaders in runs (94, 1st), hits (158, 2nd), triples (15, 1st), total bases (233, 2nd) and avg. (.290, 8th)…reached base safely in 74 consecutive games from April 22-July 16, breaking the minor league record (71) shared by Kevin Youkilis and Kevin Millar, according to MLB.com…named to the MWL midseason and postseason All-Star teams and was the league's Prospect of the Year…named to the Diamondbacks Organizational All-Star Team by MLB.com and the Low Class-A All-Star Team by Baseball America…acquired by the Rays along with outfielder Justin Williams from the Diamondbacks on Nov 14 in exchange for righthander Jeremy Hellickson…played 23 games for the the Indios de Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League… ranked by Baseball America as the No. 10 prospect in the Rays system following the season…the publication also tabbed him as the Most Exciting Player and Best Defensive Shortstop in the MWL in its Best Tools survey.

2013

Assigned to Class-A South Bend in early-June out of extended spring training…hit .315 (29-for-92) over his final 28 games there.

2012

Recorded 22 SB in 25 attempts between the Rookie-level AZL Diamondbacks and Missoula… ranked 5th in the Arizona League with 20 SB.