Right-hander Vince Velasquez, one of the key pieces in a blockbuster Philadelphia Phillies trade more than a decade ago, has been promoted by the Chicago Cubs to the big-league roster, the team announced.
Velasquez just missed facing his former club. The Cubs completed a four-game sweep of the Phillies earlier this week. Chicago finished the series with a thrilling 8-7 victory in extra innings on Thursday, April 23. The team lost veteran reliever Caleb Thielbar during the win. The left-hander hit the injured list with a hamstring injury. Velasquez will replace Thielbar on the big-league roster.
It’s been a winding road back to MLB for Velasquez. The righty last pitched in the majors back in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He most recently pitched professionally with the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization.
Former Philadelphia Phillies Prospect Vince Velasquez Returns to the Majors With the Chicago Cubs
MLB Pipeline ranked Velasquez 86th among all prospects in the 2015 season. That year featured an elite group of future All-Stars at the top of the list. Outfielder Byron Buxton was the top prospect in all of baseball, followed by third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Carlos Correa, and shortstop Francisco Lindor. Right-hander Lucas Giolito was the top-ranked pitcher, slotting in at No. 6.
Velasquez was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in 2010. He came to the Phillies in a blockbuster deal, along with left-hander Brett Oberholtzer, right-hander Harold Arauz, right-hander Mark Appel, and right-hander Tom Eshelman. Houston received shortstop Jonathan Arauz and right-hander Ken Giles in the deal. Giles was the prize for the Astros. He picked up 15 saves in his first year with the club. Giles closed out a career-high 34 games in 2017.
The Phillies immediately inserted the 24-year-old Velasquez into the rotation. He posted a 4.12 ERA across 24 starts in 2016. The righty delivered a strong 27.6% strikeout rate in his first extended look at the big league level. Velasquez would spend five years as a reliable member of the Phillies’ rotation. He never ascended to the level his prospect pedigree suggested, but he put together a respectable half-decade in Philadelphia.
Cubs Give Velasquez Another Shot
Velasquez’s time in Philadelphia will be most remembered for his work in the outfield. The right-hander was pressed into service after an injury to Zach Eflin forced outfielder Roman Quinn into the game as an emergency pitcher. Philadelphia was out of bench options in the 15th inning of a marathon against the Chicago White Sox. On a base hit to left field, Velasquez came up firing, cutting down Jose Abreu at the plate.
The Cubs added Velasquez on a minor league contract in February. He pitched well in a brief stint during MLB Spring Training, allowing one earned run over three innings. Velasquez opened the year at Triple-A. He notched a 3.71 ERA over four appearances with Iowa. The righty was striking out minor league bats at a strong 26.0% rate, though he was issuing free passes at a concerning 12.3% clip. Velasquez is likely to provide length in the Cubs’ bullpen. He worked as a starter in three of his four minor league games.
Former Phillies Pitcher Vince Velasquez Finds New Team