Phillies righthander Vince Velasquez never played organized soccer, but it was hard to tell when seeing him adeptly juggling a ball the other day in the Phillies clubhouse.
Velasquez prides himself on his athletic ability. He said he recently shot a 73 while playing golf. When asked whether he was the best athlete on the team, Velasquez replied: "Maybe."
Then again, the Phillies don't care about his touch on a soccer ball or whether he can shoot under par.
Yet for the 24-year-old Velasquez, the activities outside of baseball, especially soccer, are essential in helping him prepare to pitch.