| Gil Velazquez | |
|---|---|
 Velazquez with the Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: (1979-10-17)October 17, 1979 (age 46) Los Angeles,California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 25, 2008, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 22, 2013, for the Miami Marlins | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .233 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 4 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Gilbert Arnulfo Velazquez (born October 17, 1979) is an American former professionalbaseballinfielder and currentcoach. He is currently the defensive coordinator for theArizona Diamondbacks ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighs 225 pounds (102 kg). Velazquez is a graduate ofParamount High School inParamount, California. Velazquez played in MLB for theBoston Red Sox,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, andMiami Marlins.
Velazquez was drafted by theNew York Mets in the 14th round of the1998 Major League Baseball draft and made his pro debut with the rookie-levelGulf Coast League Mets the same year. He remained in the Mets farm system through 2004, playing for theKingsport Mets of theAppalachian League,Capital City Bombers of theSouth Atlantic League,St. Lucie Mets of theFlorida State League,Binghamton Mets of theEastern League andNorfolk Tides of theInternational League.
Velazquez signed as a minor league free agent with theMinnesota Twins on November 15, 2004, where he remained through 2007. With the Twins he split his time between the Eastern League'sNew Britain Rock Cats and the International Leagues'Rochester Red Wings.
Velazquez signed a minor league contract with theBoston Red Sox on December 7, 2007, and was invited tospring training.[1] He played the majority of the season with the team's Triple-A affiliate, thePawtucket Red Sox, but was called up late in the season. Velazquez made his Major League debut on September 25, 2008,[2] and played in two more games afterwards with one hit in eight at-bats. His hit was an RBI single to left field off ofAlfredo Aceves of theNew York Yankees on September 26.[3]
AfterMike Lowell was placed on thedisabled list in the middle of the 2008American League Division Series, Velazquez filled his roster spot, and became eligible to play in game four of the playoffs after only three major league appearances and one major league hit, he did not appear in the series.[4]
Velazquez was invited to 2009 spring training as well after signing a new minor league contract on November 10, 2008. On April 11, 2009, he was called up to the Red Sox whileJulio Lugo spent time on the disabled list. Gil was optioned back to Pawtucket when Boston called upMichael Bowden.On May 12, 2009, Velazquez was recalled to Boston whenKevin Youkilis was placed on the 15-day disabled list.[5] Velazquez was optioned back to Pawtucket on May 20 when Kevin Youkilis was activated from the disabled list.[6] On August 5, Velazquez was designated for assignment. He appeared in a total of six games with the Red Sox and did not record a hit in his two-at-bats.[7]
On January 15, 2010, Velazquez was re-signed by the Red Sox and again invited to spring training.[8] He spent the entire 2010 season with Pawtucket, where he finished the season with a .249 average.
Velazquez was signed by theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim on January 14, 2011, to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.[9]
He was assigned to the Angels' Triple-APacific Coast League affiliate, theSalt Lake Bees, on April 6, 2011.[10] There, Velazquez was named to the 2011 PCL All-Star team.Velazquez, a 31-year-old native of Los Angeles, appeared in 123 games for the Bees in 2011, hitting a team-high and career-high .328 with 25 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 58 RBI, and 17 stolen bases.
The Angels recalled Velazquez on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, during September roster expansions.[11] Velazquez, who plays second base, third base and shortstop, made his Angels debut on September 16, pinch hitting against theBaltimore Orioles. Velazquez appeared in three more games in 2011. He had three hits in six at-bats. Velazquez elected free agency following the season on November 4.[12]
On December 30, 2011, Velazquez signed a minor league contract with theMiami Marlins, and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, theNew Orleans Zephyrs. On August 16, Velazquez was called up to the major league team. The next day, he started in his first game for the Marlins. Velazquez finished the season batting .232 in 56 at-bats with two RBI, no homers, one double and walk, in 19 games. He was outrighted off the Marlins roster on October 4, 2013,[13] and elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to New Orleans.
On April 8, 2014, Velazquez signed with theLeones de Yucatán of theMexican League. In 103 appearances for Yucatán, he slashed .288/.375/.363 with three home runs, 35 RBI, and three stolen bases.[14] Velazquez was released by the Leones on February 17, 2025.
In 2015, Velazquez retired from playing to become a coach for theArizona League Dodgers, the rookie-level affiliate for theLos Angeles Dodgers.[15] The following year, he was named manager of theGreat Lakes Loons, the Dodgers' Single-A affiliate in theMidwest League.[16]
On February 1, 2022, theArizona Diamondbacks hired Velazquez to serve as the manager for their Triple-A affiliate, theReno Aces.[17] The Aces won thePacific Coast League championship, and Velazquez was named Minor League Manager of the Year following the season.[18]
On January 29, 2025, Velasquez was hired to serve as the bench coach for theScranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, the Triple-A affiliate of theNew York Yankees.[19]
· Baseball Almanac