Velazquez, Fordham Prep grad, lives out dream as Bombers’ SS
KANSAS CITY — Andrew Velazquez grew up in the shadows of Yankee Stadium dreaming of playing shortstop in pinstripes. Monday, with the latest injury to Gleyber Torres, the 27-year-old got to live out his dream.
“I just posted this on my Instagram today. I made it on the old Yankee Stadium field. So, I mean, this is something I’ve thought about, I kind of feel like I manifested it since I was a child, so it’s amazing to me,” Velazquez said before the Yankees took on the Royals in the first of three games at Kauffman Stadium. “I used to have Yankee uniforms and I was a kid, I used to go to the stadium all the time so I mean this is where my love for baseball began.”
Velazquez was a seventh round pick of the Diamondbacks out of
Fordham Prep in 2012. He made his major league debut with the Rays in 2018, but he said Monday night playing for the team he grew up idolizing felt like making his big league debut all over again. He was too excited to call his parents and give them the news.
“I texted them just so I can calm down a little bit. I didn’t want to get on the phone and scream,” Velazquez said. “I’ve told them before, it kind of feels like my debut all over again.”
In 70 games with the Triple-A Scranton Railriders, the switch-hitting Velazquez was slashing .283/.367/.471 with seven homers, 43 RBI and 26 stolen bases.
The Yankees are also impressed with his defense.
“I’m excited to have him here. He played really well in spring for us, he lights up a room. We’ve said the
word energy, I feel like 1,000 times over the last month, but he’s another guy that brings just a positive energy to the clubhouse,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “So I’m excited about what he can bring to the table.”
NEXT STEPS
Luis Severino threw four perfect innings for Double-A Somerset Sunday, part of a combined no-hitter for the club. The right-hander struck out five. He will make another minor league rehab start on Friday.
“Obviously he threw really well yesterday. I actually watched it this morning and texted with him briefly about how good he feels and how strong he looked yesterday, so it was a great four innings,” Boone said. “He’ll make another start Friday. Obviously get built up a little bit more and then we’ll probably have a decision in front of us, whether he takes another one or potentially at that point is with us.
“But he’s certainly getting close and looks and feels really good.”
Corey Kluber, who threw live batting practice on Saturday, will make a minor league rehab start Thursday with Double-A Somerset. The right-hander, who has been on the IL since late May with a shoulder strain, has not pitched in a game since May 25.
Domingo German, who has been on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, has still not begin throwing. Boone said the hope is that he will be able to ramp up soon.