With Gleyber Torres and Gio Urshela fighting their way back from injury, the New York Yankees had a depletion of talent in the infield. Looking for more defensively stout options, the Yankees settled on Andrew Velazquez, a journeyman since his inception into professional baseball in 2012.
Starting his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Velazquez has found himself with Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Baltimore. Last season with the Orioles, Velazquez played in 40 games, posting a .159 average and 30% strikeout rate. With a positive defensive WAR, Velazquez serves a specific purpose, but its his offensive production with the Yankees that’s put him on the map.