Vince Velasquez - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Heading to Korea The Guardians released Velasquez on Wednesday.

Impact Velasquez is headed to Korea to sign with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization. The right-hander has spent all of the 2025 season with Triple-A Columbus, posting a 3.42 ERA and 95:50 K:BB over 81.2 innings. Velasquez has not pitched in the big leagues since 2023.

AUGUST 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Heading to Korea The Guardians released Velasquez on Wednesday.

AUGUST 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Outrighted to Triple-A The Guardians outrighted Velasquez to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.

Impact Velasquez passed through waivers unclaimed after exiting the Guardians' 40-man roster and it appears he'll remain in the organization rather than electing free agency. The righty didn't make an appearance during his brief time with Cleveland and holds a 6.00 ERA and 11:16 K:BB over 15 innings covering four starts with Columbus this season.

MAY 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment The Guardians designated Velasquez for assignment Friday.

Impact Velasquez was added to the major-league roster earlier this week but didn't make an appearance. He'll likely clear waivers and, assuming he does, would have the ability to elect free agency.

MAY 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back in big leagues The Guardians selected Velasquez's contract from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Impact Velasquez is being promoted even after he posted a 6.00 ERA and 11:16 K:BB over 15 innings covering four starts with Columbus. He appears likely to be used only in mop-up duty.

APRIL 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Goes to Cleveland as NRI The Guardians signed Velasquez to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Velasquez made just nine appearances in 2023 and zero in 2024, but he should be fully recovered from UCL surgery on his right elbow. The 32-year-old was last seen in the big leagues with the Pirates in 2023, when he posted a 3.86 ERA and 37:14 K:BB over 37.1 frames. Velasquez will likely open the 2025 season in the rotation at Triple-A Columbus.

FEBRUARY 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

'Hit the reset button': Velasquez on why he had surgery This story was excerpted from Justice delos Santos’ Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get i...

JULY 8, 2023 • MLB.COM

'I would love to' | Vince Velasquez meets with reporters for first time since surgery, discusses desire to return to Pirates next year LOS ANGELES – Roughly 35 miles away from his hometown of Montclair, Calif., Vince Velasquez found himself in a different kind of familiar se...

JULY 7, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Moves to 60-day IL The Pirates transferred Velasquez (elbow) to the 60-day injured list, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Impact Velasquez underwent season-ending surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow earlier this month, so his move to the 60-day IL doesn't come as much of a surprise. The 31-year-old righty will end the season with a 3.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 37 strikeouts through 37.1 innings. He'll become a free agent this offseason and figures to return midway through 2024.

JUNE 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Velasquez undergoes season-ending UCL surgery PITTSBURGH -- As Vince Velasquez sat at his locker in the visiting clubhouse of T-Mobile Field on May 28, he expressed optimism that he woul...

JUNE 9, 2023 • MLB.COM

Report: Pirates P Vince Velasquez (elbow) out for season Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Vince Velasquez underwent season-ending elbow surgery Friday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported

JUNE 9, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM

Undergoes elbow surgery Velasquez underwent season-ending surgery Friday on his right elbow, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Velasquez was originally diagnosed with elbow inflammation when he landed back on the injured list May 28, but further testing revealed the need for a surgical repair. The 31-year-old right-hander finishes the 2023 campaign with a 3.86 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 37:14 K:BB in eight starts (37.1 innings) with the Pirates. He is scheduled to become a free agent this winter.

JUNE 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Set for MRI Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Velasquez is set to undergo an MRI and receive further medical opinions after the right-hander exited his start in Saturday'...

Impact Velasquez was shelved for about three and a half weeks with elbow inflammation before he returned from the 15-day injured list Saturday, only to suffer a setback with his throwing arm two innings into his start and returning to the IL a day later. The 30-year-old implied that he'll likely be in store for a lengthier absence than the previous one in his second stint on the IL, though he's optimistic that he'll pitch again in 2023. Expect a clearer timeline as well as a more precise diagnosis of his injury to become available once the results of the MRI are read.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates put RHP Vince Velasquez (elbow) back on IL The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Vince Velasquez on the 15-day injured list Sunday, a day after his return from a previous bout wi...

MAY 28, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM

Pirates pitcher Vince Velasquez 'optimistic' on elbow, still faces long road ahead Speaking Sunday morning, Vince Velasquez said he’s optimistic he’ll pitch again this season and not require surgery.

MAY 28, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Shelved with elbow discomfort The Pirates placed Velasquez on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right elbow discomfort, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Impact After returning Saturday from a stint on the 15-day IL due to elbow inflammation, Velasquez lasted just two innings into his start against the Mariners before succumbing to a related injury. The Pirates haven't provided a firm diagnosis or timeline for Velasquez's return, but in light of his latest elbow-related setback, the right-hander acknowledged that he'll likely be in store for a longer period of time off than he had during his first stint on the IL, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Velasquez added that he's confident he'll be able to pitch again this season, but his absence for at least the next few weeks should reopen the door for the struggling Roansy Contreras to re-enter the rotation.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bucs' rotation in flux after Velasquez's IL return cut short SEATTLE -- Vince Velasquez’s first outing off the injured list didn’t go as planned. After spending several weeks on the IL due to right elb...

MAY 28, 2023 • MLB.COM

Vince Velasquez experiences more elbow issues in return, as Pirates fall to Mariners Vince Velasquez experienced more elbow issues and left after two innings Saturday during a 5-0 loss against the Mariners.

MAY 27, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Removed with elbow discomfort Velasquez was removed from Saturday's start against Seattle with right elbow discomfort. He allowed four runs on seven hits over two innings with three strikeouts and one walk befo...

Impact Velasquez was making his first start since early May, as he was sidelined with inflammation in the same elbow. The right-hander should be considered day-to-day at this stage, but saying that his next scheduled start is in doubt is an understatement.

MAY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starting Saturday Velasquez (elbow) will return from the injured list to start Saturday in Seattle.

Impact Velasquez has been out since early May with elbow inflammation but will make it back to the rotation having missed less than a month. Prior to the injury, he recorded a 3.06 ERA in seven starts, though his ERA estimators (4.50 xFIP, 4.43 SIERA) suggest he deserved something much closer to his career 4.84 ERA.

MAY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Confirmed for weekend return Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Wednesday that Velasquez (elbow) will return to the rotation this weekend in Seattle, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Impact The safest bet is that Velasquez will slide into Luis Ortiz's spot Sunday, as Mitch Keller and Roansy Contreras are secure in their roles and currently line up to handle the first two games of the three-game series versus the Mariners. Out since May 5 due to right elbow inflammation, Velasquez tallied four strikeouts over 4.2 scoreless innings in his lone rehab start this past Saturday at Triple-A Indianapolis. He threw 63 pitches in that outing and should be able to handle 80-plus pitches in his return start with Pittsburgh.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vince Velasquez expected to return to Pirates' rotation on upcoming road trip Vince Velasquez returned to Pittsburgh and will travel with the team. Expect him to start against the Mariners this weekend.

MAY 24, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Should rejoin rotation this weekend Velasquez returned to Pittsburgh on Wednesday and expects to be activated from the 15-day injured list to make a start at some point during the Pirates' upcoming series in Seattle...

Impact Velasquez acknowledged that it's not his call when the Pirates choose to activate him, though general manager Ben Cherington told Justice delos Santos of MLB.com that "all signs point to" the right-hander being reinstated from the IL for his next outing. Though Velasquez was initially expected to make two minor-league rehab starts prior to being activated, he looks like he'll be ready to go after striking out four over 4.2 scoreless innings with Triple-A Indianapolis this past Saturday. Velasquez will most likely take back a spot in the Pittsburgh rotation from Luis Ortiz.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Could require another rehab start General manager Ben Cherington said Sunday the Pirates have yet to decide if Velasquez (elbow) will require a second minor-league rehab start, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com repor...

Impact The right-hander made his first rehab outing with Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday and threw 63 pitches across 4.2 scoreless innings. Velasquez has been on the shelf with elbow inflammation since May 5, and Pittsburgh could want to see another start in the minors in order to further build up his workload before re-inserting him into the big-league rotation.

MAY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing side session Wednesday Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told reporters that Velasquez (elbow) will throw a side session Wednesday and make a rehab start later this week, Jason Mackey of the Pitts...

Impact The rehab start is expected to take place with Triple-A Indianapolis. Velasquez threw a live batting practice session without issue Monday, and the 30-year-old has made enough progress from the inflammation in his right elbow to take the final step before rejoining the Pittsburgh pitching staff. Velasquez will likely need to make multiple rehab appearances before he does link back up with the Pirates, but assuming there are no injury setbacks that should occur by the end of May.

MAY 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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