Red Sox Sign Héctor Velázquez
The Mexican Winter League Pitcher of the Year and Finals MVP inks a minor-league deal with Boston.
The Caribbean Series, comprised of winter league teams from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela, came to a close on Feburary 7th with Puerto Rico besting host Mexico 1–0 in the finale. The big, MLB-related story during the series was the potential signing of Sergio Romo, who pitched the first game in a setup role but didn’t participate the rest of the way. However, Romo isn’t the only pitcher from team Mexico that will joining a major league team for spring training.
On Sunday, Héctor Velázquez, who pitched for los Mayos de Navojoa this past winter, passed his physical and signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox. Velázquez was named the Pitcher of the Year over the winter for the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico, and after being chosen in the Reinforcement Draft by the Águilas de Mexicali, was named the MVP of the league finals.
Sporting a low-90’s heater and what’s been described to me as an “excellent” split-finger fastball, Velázquez almost won the LMP pitching triple crown, leading the league in strikeouts and wins and coming in second in ERA (2.32, or 0.12 points behind Manny Barreda). While the Mexican Winter League is certainly a much lower level than the majors (I’d project it to be more competitive than Double-A, but not quite at the Triple-A level), the 28-year-old is a lottery ticket that is a low-risk move for Boston.
Where might Velázquez fit in with Boston? Well, assuming that they can stay healthy through the spring, the rotation seems pretty set from top to bottom. Chris Sale and Rick Porcello’s jobs are safe. Left handed prospect Brian Johnson (their fifth ranked prospect according to MLB.com) seems like he could make some starts with the big club starting this year as well.
With a lot of competition for the starting roles, coupled with possible fatigue from having pitched in Mexico during the summer and winter seasons, Velázquez’s path to the majors would invariably be through the bullpen.
While he lacks the gaudy strikeout numbers (a career 6.6 K/9) and high velocity seen in most major league relievers, Mexican baseball fans will be watching to see if one of their own can make it in the majors. With rumors flying that Jaime García and Jorge de la Rosa may not pitch for Mexico’s World Baseball Classic team, many believe that Velázquez would’ve been a likely replacement.
Instead, with a shot to play for a major league organization, he’ll be heading to Florida’s Grapefruit League to turn some heads this spring.
