Miguel Velazquez
| AB | 955 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .267 |
| OBP | .331 |
| SLG | .436 |
| HR | 32 |
- Full name Miguel A. Velazquez
- Born 05/15/1988 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Instituto Comercial De Puerto Rico Junior College
- Drafted in the 19th round (568th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2006.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A run-in with the law torpedoed Velazquez's draft stock out of high school. He was projected to go in the top three rounds before he was involved in a shooting with his brother in March 2006. His brother shot and seriously injured their neighbor, whom they say was trying to harm their sister. After investigating the incident, the Rangers took him in the 19th round and signed him for $72,000. Velazquez had a strong pro debut but missed all of 2008 when he had to spend the year in Puerto Rico as part of three years of probation. He picked up where he left off after returning and played well at two Class A stops last season. Velazquez has average-or-better tools across the board, and when he shows up ready to play he can look like one of Texas' best prospects. But he still needs to mature, and he'll have to buy into the mechanical changes he'll have to make at the plate. Loaded with righthanded power potential, he has gotten by on his strength so far in his career. But his bat doesn't stay in the zone long enough, his timing is inconsistent and he struggles against breaking balls. An average runner, Velazquez can play all three outfield positions. He's an aggressive defender who gets good reads and does a nice job of cutting balls off in the gaps. His above-average arm is one of the best in the system. Velazquez has the physical toolset to be an everyday big league right fielder, but his makeup remains a question mark. He must show more maturity in 2011, when he figures to reach Double-A at some point. -
Velazquez was projected as a top-three-rounds pick out of high school in Puerto Rico, but his stock plummeted when he was involved in a shooting with his brother in March 2006. Velazquez has told reporters that he was with his brother when his brother shot and seriously injured their neighbor, who they say was trying to kill their sister. The Rangers looked into the case and decided to take Velazquez in the 19th round that June, signing him for $72,000. He made a strong pro debut in 2007 but missed all of 2008 because of a parole violation that required him to spend time in a juvenile detention center. He returned to action last summer and picked up where he left off, showing true five-tool potential. Texas compares him to Nelson Cruz for his plus power potential, plus arm and average speed. Velazquez has a quick bat that produces hard line drives to all fields, and he could be an average or better hitter if he improves against breaking balls and refines his setup. The Rangers are working with Velazquez to lower his hands and quiet down his big leg kick. He also must improve his jumps on the bases and in right field. He has matured off the field, but he's still learning to be a good teammate. Velazquez will advance to low Class A in 2010.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Scouts regarded Velazquez as a premium talent when he was a Puerto Rico high school senior in 2006, but he fell to the 19th round after he was arrested for assault and involved in a shooting. He made his pro debut in 2007, hitting .330/.381/.489 in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but missed all of 2008 after a parole violation caused him to spend time in a youth-detention center. Picking up right where he left off, Velzaquez showed five-tool potential. Pitchers pounded him with breaking balls, but he has a good approach and his above-average bat speed produces hard line drives and power to all fields. He has good speed, though he needs to work on his jumps on the bases and in right field, and a strong, accurate arm. "He had some issues, but we knew that when we signed the player," Rangers farm director Scott Servais said. "He got some issues cleaned up off the field and we're glad to have him back. He's a very talented kid and there have been no issues this year. He's made quite a bit of progress maturity-wise and has a bright future ahead of him."
