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The Yankees brought back utility infielder/outfielder Andrew Velazquez on a minor-league contract.
The New York Yankees are banged up in the infield and outfield, so they called on a familiar face to potentially add depth.
New York signed journeyman and former Yankees draft pick Andrew Velazquez to a minor-league contract Thursday.
The utility infielder/outfielder most recently played in the majors for the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. He played 28 games with the Yankees in 2021 and had a plate appearance in the Yankees’ 6-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Game that year.
He has slashed .189/.244/.293 in 624 plate appearances over 275 major-league games with the Yankees, Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians over six big-league seasons.
Why Did The Yankees Sign Andrew Velazquez?
Velazquez was a seventh-round draft pick from the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he grew up a Yankees fan while playing baseball at Fordham Prep in the Bronx.
But after spending 2024 with Gwinnett of the International League from the Atlanta Braves organization, Velazquez signed with the Yankees in December. He has played 87 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year but was released Aug. 3.
Yet, his tenure away from the Yankees organization lasted just 11 days, as Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors reported. Velazquez sought other options, potentially trying to get back to the majors, but decided to return to the New York.
“This latest contract represents the fourth time Velazquez has signed with the Yankees, and the Bronx native saw some big league action with his hometown team in the form of 28 games in the pinstripes in 2021,” Polishuk wrote. “While the local flavor doesn’t hurt, Velasquez is a known quantity to the New York organization who can provide defensive versatility even if he doesn’t offer much at the plate.”
The Yankees are going through injuries to superstar right fielder Aaron Judge, utility infielder/outfielder Amed Rosario, as well as first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, which means they could use big-league-caliber players in their organization, even if only for depth.
What Is Andrew Velazquez’s Role With the Yankees?
Velazquez may not have a role at the major-league level with the Yankees, since he was not added to the 40-man roster. But Polishuk spelled out how Velazquez could be used if he comes up with rosters slightly expand in two weeks.
“Velazquez has primarily played shortstop during his career, but he has a lot of experience at second base, third base, and all three outfield positions (primarily center),” Polishuk wrote. “His work on the grass this year has been limited to a single appearance in center field, indicating that the Yankees view him as an emergency outfielder at best.”
Though the Yankees acquired Jose Caballero for speed and utility play, he has made just eight plate appearances and started only two games since the trade July 31.
So with Judge not yet back in right field, and Giancarlo Stanton considered only a temporary option in right field, an emergency outfielder could be beneficial, especially with Velazquez’s speed.
He has 23 stolen bases for Scranton/Wilkes Barre this year and has 40 stolen bases in his major-league career.
Pat Pickens is an experienced sports writer and media personality who has written for outlets like NHL.com, the Associated Press, the New York Times and USA Today. He covers the NFL, NBA, NHL and NBA as a breaking news contributor at Heavy. More about Pat Pickens
