An Interview with Tri-City RHP Derick Velazquez

Since being drafted by the Astros in the 7th round in 2014 out of California State University Fresno, RHP Derick Velazquez has been one of the key relief pitchers for the Tri-City bullpen. In his first 12 games, he has three saves, a 2.45 ERA and a 0955 WHIP. He has walked only two batters while striking out 17 in his 14.2 innings of work.

Tri-City Manager Ed Romero told me, "Velazquez is a very interesting guy. He has a very good arm. Hard throwing guy. He's just got to get used to the professional every day grind that these guys go through. He's got good size." Romero sees potential in Velazquez as he's a pitcher with "good stuff" who throws strikes.

As fate would have it, I wasn't able to see Velazquez pitch during my recent visit to Tri-City since he had been shut down for a couple of weeks for undisclosed reasons, but he is now back in the bullpen and, if his effectiveness is any indication, fully healthy. I was, however, able to talk with him briefly in an attempt to get to know him just a little bit better.

Derick Velazquez - July 2014

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Of his college experience, Velazquez told me, "I went to Merced Junior College out of high school. I wasn't highly recruited. I didn't get any offers, actually, so I went to junior college and did good. I was a two-way player there. I pitched, went 11-0 and hit. I got drafted after that year in the 15th round by the Orioles. And it just didn't work out so I made it to Fresno State, played there two years, didn't play as well as I wanted to, but I'm just glad I got to impress a professional team and keep playing after college." When I pointed out that he must have played pretty well to merit being picked in one of the higher rounds, he simply noted "I was happy I went that high."

He knew that the Astros had some interest in him, but he hadn't been in contact with the area scout very much. The day of the draft, "My adviser let me know that I could possibly get picked by the Astros coming up soon, and then it happened, so I was happy."

What has been the biggest surprise for Velazquez in playing professional baseball? "It's not a surprise because I knew coming in that everybody in the lineup was going to be good, but probably just how athletic everybody is and everybody knows how to play. They come from all over the world, just the best players from the whole world. It makes me learn that I can't take anybody easily. You have to play hard [against everybody]."

Since I didn't get the opportunity to see him pitch, I asked him what I could expect to see when I did get that opportunity. He responded, "I do a lot of closing so later in the games, just hopefully get a lot of ground balls. I'm not a big strikeout guy so hopefully get a lot of ground balls, a quick inning and just close out some ballgames."

I asked Velazquez what he felt like he had accomplished thus far during his season. "I changed my delivery in college a lot and it wasn't as comfortable as it used to be before I got there so here I've worked a lot with the pitching coach and the coordinators and gotten back to the way I used to be when I was the most comfortable. Just learning how to pitch to these pro guys and just getting better every day."

In answer as to what he needs to work on improving, he told me, "Probably just more consistency, throwing strikes with all of my pitches because you can't come in with just one pitch. You've got to at least have two. I'm working on my changeup a lot right now and being able to throw it low in the zone for strikes and just getting people off balance and stuff like that. Just refining my pitches."

What pitches does Velazquez have in his arsenal? "I throw a 4-seam fastball and a 2-seam. I'd say 2-seam is my favorite pitch and then I throw a changeup and a slider, but right now it's more of a cutter because I'm trying to work on getting it back to where it used to be." His fastball sits in the low 90's and he'll hit 95 occasionally. He's working on slowing down his low 80's change up, "trying to get it a little slower with the same arm speed. It's getting there."

Which hitters on the Tri-City team would he least like to face in the batter's box? "Probably A.J. [Reed, who had recently been promoted to Quad Cities] and I'd say [Nick] Tanielu. I see him stroke balls pretty hard. [Jamie] Ritchie also. Ritchie and [Ryan] Bottger [also promoted to Quad Cities]. Those guys are just always putting the ball in play solid and are hard to get out so those would probably be the guys."

Whose pitch would he like to have in his arsenal? "Probably [Troy] Scribner's curveball. He just freezes guys and that's why he's leading the league in strikeouts. It's a good pitch. That's what I'd like to have."

He also pointed to Scribner as a player he enjoys watching, "He knows what he's doing. He commands his pitches. I'd say he's one guy I'm surprised he's still here. Especially with the numbers he's putting up." Scribner was promoted a few days after this interview. Velazquez also likes to watch Francis Ramirez pitch, "He's a big body and that's the way I feel like I can be, and he's fun to watch. He's a big power pitcher." Velazquez told me that he will be focusing on putting on weight and building up his legs in the off-season to start filling out what might be characterized as a thin, but projectable frame."

Who on the team makes him laugh? "Probably my roommate Ryan Thompson. He knows when to be serious and then he knows when to just goof around and keep it free and stuff like that. I'm glad he's my roommate. It's fun at home. It keeps things fun."

I asked Velazquez to tell me something about himself that people might not know. He responded, "I'm very quiet. I don't go up to people and have a conversation. I'm kind of in the back of a crowd. Once I get to know people, then I'll be talkative, but I'm very quiet. I was an only child growing up. I didn't have siblings [to be] hanging around with so I keep to myself a lot."

If he couldn't play baseball, "I'd be a pilot. My mom was a flight attendant so I've been around airports since I was little and I always loved watching planes take off. I want to be a pilot after baseball. That's my second love."

I asked Velazquez if he had any final words about the Tri-City team. He said, "It's a good team. It's discouraging that we have so many good guys that are starting to move up. Hopefully guys can just step up and we can keep winning and hopefully win the whole thing again." The 'Cats lost that night, but then went on a five-game winning streak and have won seven of their last ten. So it appears that "the guys" are indeed stepping up, including this quiet young man who lets his pitching speak for him.

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Thank you for your time, Derick. I look forward to seeing you in the playoffs and, hopefully, the finals. Best of luck!