The Astros have released right-hander Hector Velazquez, as per the official transactions page for Triple-A West. According to multiple reports out of Mexico, Velazquez will now pitch for Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League, and he will also be a part of Mexico’s national baseball team roster for the Olympics.
Velazquez posted a 3.90 ERA over 166 innings for the Red Sox from 2017-18, chipping in as both a long reliever and occasional spot starter (or opener) over his 89 games with the team. After struggling in 2019, however, Velazquez was designated for assignment during Spring Training 2020 and then claimed by the Orioles, before being traded to Houston in July 2020.
Despite these changes of scenery, Velazquez still hasn’t pitched in a big league game since 2019. The righty had a 1.46 ERA and a 21.8% strikeout rate over 24 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level, yet even though the Astros have dealt with a number of pitching injuries this season, it seemed as though Velasquez simply wasn’t in the team’s plans.
He’ll now return to his old stomping grounds, as Velazquez previously pitched in the Mexican League from 2010-2016. The last of those seasons was also with Monclova, with Velazquez posting an impressive 2.47 ERA over 22 starts and 131 1/3 innings. The Red Sox purchased his contract following that strong season.
Has anybody seen the creepy Rangers fan that was pretending to be a high school kid a few months ago for attention? Pathetic.
I haven’t. That’s disturbing.
Yes, it certainly was disturbing.
Was that Rangers29? Or something like that
@lolmutts- are you the CIA?
Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC.
Always figured the guy was really xiable.
I thought it was monty
Creepy but WTF does that have to do with baseball transactions
It doesn’t but a Texas related post was the best shot to do it
Texas French Toast is the best!
It’s an Astros article, not Texas.
Houston is in Texas, but it’s over 250 miles from Arlington.
In fact they’re further away from each other than NYC and Boston.
He was on here a few weeks back. I had called him out on that creepy stuff months ago. Hopefully he’s behind bars where he belongs so our kids can be safer. What was crazy, was how many posters on here actually thought he was a freshman in highschool!
He used to post on every article but I haven’t seen him for a minute. He seemed sus but how’d you guys figure out he wasn’t actually a high schooler?
A released pitcher heading to Mexico. He’ll be in a Reds uniform by Sunday.
Red leg Roy – Thanks for posting about the article. (16 posts above yours have nothing to do with it).
In 2018 Hector had marginal stuff with a high WHIP. He was lucky to have a low ERA as he had base runners all over the place. Since then he has really been “emergency AAA depth” quality who would only be in the MLB because the MLB has a general lack of quality pitching to go around rather than because he is good. Baltimore signed him in 2020, and Houston in 2021, but he did not play in the mlb. At this point Hector is AAA roster filler….hay it’s a job and better than sitting home collecting unemployment.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Alex Cora jumped on this.
Yes a 10-man bullpen would make Cora very, very happy. In every game he could have every reliever pitch to exactly 3 batters each, which would make his many pitching changes look even more brilliant.
I can already see it now … 10th inning, tie game with Tampa, Cora makes his 10th pitching change of the game by bringing in Velazquez. Sure it would cost the Red Sox the game, but at least none of the relievers would break a sweat.
Almost half of the Astros bullpen has been on the IL for the majority of the season. They need to find a way to rid themselves of Joe Smith, he is completely useless. He sat out last year because of the epidemic while making $4M and his team barely missed the World Series.
He’s making $4M again this season with a 7.59 ERA, he either needs to go down to AAA Sugar Land or they should just outright him.