Andrew Velazquez immediately turned a lover favored in The Bronx last 12 months as the hometown child making good on his opportunity with the Yankees.
But the shortstop may perhaps be even additional adored by his new group.
When the Angels flew to New York for their series against the Yankees, the theme on the flight was “Dress like Squid,” applying Velazquez’s nickname. And when they took the field for batting exercise on Tuesday afternoon, several of them did so sporting T-shirts that on the entrance confirmed a squid donning a glove on each individual arm and on the back again read, “70 % of the environment is coated by water. The rest is coated by Squid.”
The defensive whiz has created that sort of an perception on his new teammates and staff in just 41 online games, even after starting off the year at Triple-A.
“The finest shortstop in the American League [right now],” Angels supervisor Joe Maddon reported Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. “I saw him previous 12 months, [but] I didn’t get a chance to see it sufficient.
“Wow. We’re only 5 [games over .500] — we ended up 10 or 11 around at a single time. We would not be there with out him at shortstop. … I’m a massive lover of Squid.”
The Yankees noticed it final period when they acquired a shot in the arm by contacting up Velazquez in August when Gleyer Torres was harm. The Fordham Prep grad showed off his slick fingers — and even came by with some timely hits — in just 28 games in pinstripes prior to earning a begin in the AL wild-card sport.
But the Yankees waived him in November, reducing his homecoming quick due to the fact they wanted to open up a location on their crowded 40-guy roster.
“I’ve been close to extensive ample to know the organization facet of it is type of unpredictable,” Velazquez reported. “I’m also self-aware so I noticed they experienced like 60 guys on the roster and the men that were coming back. So I’m not amazed. I enjoyed it in this article. No animosity or nothing at all. I cherished it and soaked up the encounter.”
Velazquez, who explained he received “recharged” by the electrical power staying again in New York, has been one particular of the most valuable Angels on a staff entire of stars so far this time. Coming into Tuesday, his 6 Outs Previously mentioned Ordinary (for every Baseball Savant) were the best of any MLB shortstop and his 1.1 WAR (for each Baseball Reference) was sixth-most effective on the Angels.
“What he’s performing defensively is seriously amazing,” 3rd baseman Matt Duffy claimed. “It’s unbelievable.”
When Velazquez produced a unusual mistake a short while ago, Duffy joked that the ball must be despatched to Cooperstown.
“He’s just a definitely fantastic ballplayer,” Duffy claimed. “I imagine there’s far more in him than what has been permitted to be proven up to this stage in his occupation. Not a guy I’d be stunned about heading ahead if people today start hearing his name a minimal extra.”
Velazquez didn’t just take extended to grow to be a house identify in The Bronx previous time, but the Yankees opted to switch elsewhere to tackle shortstop. In its place of pursuing any of the star free of charge brokers, they traded for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, an additional defense-initial shortstop who entered Tuesday with minus-1 Outs Above Regular but a improved offensive profile. Velazquez was batting just .202 with a 58 OPS-in addition, although Duffy and Maddon each famous how tough he has been hitting the ball, particularly of late.
“He could in no way get any hits and it would be really worth it,” Duffy said.
As for dressing like Velazquez? Maddon just reached into his closet.
“I experienced a groovy coat that I realized he would like due to the fact it arrived out of my have closet,” Maddon claimed. “Same issue with my white leather-based desert boots that I know could have been in his closet, way too. Peace and Love shirt beneath the jacket. And some khakis mainly because I know he went to Fordham Prep.”
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