Phillies righty Vince Velasquez is headed for surgery to address a vascular problem that has caused issues with Velasquez’s right middle finger, manager Pete Mackanin tells reporters including MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki (via Twitter).
It’s never great to end a season with a medical issue, but it sounds as if Velasquez will not require a terribly significant procedure. GM Matt Klentak tells Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link) that Velasquez will only need six to eight weeks of recovery time. Philadelphia has already placed Velasquez on the 60-day DL.
Today’s news raises new concerns for the talented 25-year-old, who has dealt with some arm issues and questions about his long-term role while also flashing quite a lot of talent through his first 258 2/3 MLB innings. Velasquez broke into the bigs with the Astros, but moved to Philadelphia as part of the trade that sent young closer Ken Giles to Houston.
Velasquez made 24 starts for the Phils in 2016, posting a solid 4.12 ERA with 10.4 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. Sporting a 94.7 mph average fastball velocity and 11.2% swinging-strike rate, Velasquez was dominant at times. But he was also touched for 1.4 home runs per nine innings, a problem that has grown in 2017.
Thus far in the present season, Velasquez has permitted 1.88 long balls per regulation game while carrying only about half the K%-BB% (10.8%) that he did last year (19.4%). The results have followed, as he has only lasted 72 innings over 15 outings and carries an ugly 5.13 ERA.
Despite those struggles, Klentak says that the organization still views Velasquez as a starter. Indeed, there’s little reason for the team not to keep giving him opportunities to stick in the rotation. The Phils likely won’t view themselves as likely contenders in 2018, Velasquez has shown an intriguing ceiling.
So long as Velasquez can return to health by the time camp rolls around — and he’ll have plenty of time to do so — the Phillies will likely pencil him into one of the team’s five starting slots. Philadelphia has a variety of internal options who’ll likely do battle, though, and seems likely to introduce some veteran competition (if not commit a rotation spot or two to a free agent or trade target), so nothing will be assured.
He needs to be the closer
Nah hes way to solid as a starter, between him and Nola its all the Phillies got lol
Solid? Almost every very time it’s 5 innings, 100 pitches, and heavy breathing.
He’s got closer stuff
One inning pitches in excess of 93-94 mph
His stuff seems like it would play up in the pen. I mean, look at his velocity in the rotation- already averaging mid-nineties- it would not surprise me to see him hit 100 if he’s in the pen full time.
Agreed. I thought Houston should have tried him at closer when they dealt for Giles.
If you check our Velasquez’ performance in the first inning of his starts, you recognize that he’s a slow starter who needs time to settle in. Not a good blueprint for a closer or any high leverage reliever.
Pitching multiple days in a row, gettin-up, warming-up, multiple games a wk, puts an entirely different type of stress on ur arm….maybe less innings BUT more actual use, less rest, not pitching once every 5 days, perhaps the braintrust from said teams know more bout his delicate shoulder than some fans….
Vince Velascular
Lmao!
Am I the only one that read it as “testicular issue” at a quick glance? Yes? Okay
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Vince is Still a PROJECT !
Someday he’ll be a Good Number two Starter , Right now he just need to get well !