Ralphy Velazquez Stats & Scouting Report

AB	43
AVG	.163
OBP	.294
SLG	.465
HR	4

Full name Raffaele Javier Velazquez
Born 05/28/2005 in San Pedro, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS
Drafted in the 1st round (23rd overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 (signed for $2,500,000).

View Draft Report

School: Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Arizona State
Age At Draft: 18.1
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 60. Run: 30. Field: 45. Arm: 60.

Velazquez has stood out from a young age with a fluid lefthanded swing that is quick, compact and powerful. He led Huntington Beach (Calif.) High to a National High School Invitational title this spring and finished his decorated prep tenure with 23 career home runs while playing some of the best competition in the country. Velazquez has a physical 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame and generates above-average power with his natural strength and solid bat speed. He has a good feel for picking out pitches to drive and sends towering drives over the right field fence with impressive ease. Velazquez doesn’t have to sell out to get to his power and consistently takes good swings against good pitching. He’s a mature, patient hitter who rarely expands the strike zone and has the hand-eye coordination, balance and pitch recognition to be at least an average hitter. Velazquez is one of the best prep hitters in the draft class, but his defense raises questions. He’s a well below-average runner whose lateral mobility, blocking and overall athleticism behind the plate are all below-average and need improvement. He sets up well and has the hand strength to stick pitches in the strike zone, providing some optimism he can stay behind the plate and avoid a move to first base. He has plus arm strength and a strong work ethic. Velazquez is committed to Arizona State but is signable. He projects to be selected in the top two rounds on the strength of his bat.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.

Track Record: Velazquez earned a reputation as one of the best prep hitters in the 2023 draft class after an impressive career with SoCal powerhouse Huntington Beach. He signed for $2.5 million as the 23rd overall pick with the Guardians and played well in a brief pro debut in Rookie ball. In 2024, Velazquez hit well with Low-A Lynchburg, slashing.243/.352/.414 with 10 home runs and a 131 wRC+, but struggled after a promotion to High-A Lake County, where he hit .177/.275/.250 with a 54 wRC+.

Scouting Report: Velazquez is a big and physical lefthanded-hitting first baseman with a 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame. He employs a wide, crouched setup in the box and uses a toe-tap mechanism to start his swing, with a handset that has gradually gotten higher since his prep days. That hand placement has allowed Velazquez to generate loft on a greater variety of pitches, which should help him tap into his easy plus raw power. He has tons of strength and great bat speed that has allowed him to generate some of the best exit velocities in the system, and some scouts think he could grow into 70-grade raw power. He does have a bit of swing-and-miss, especially against breaking and offspeed pitches, but has above-average hitting potential. Velazquez is a well below-average runner with poor acceleration who shouldn’t be much of a basestealing threat. He spent a vast majority of his time in the field in 2024 at first base, which is where he projects moving forward. Velazquez played a few games in left field and does have a plus arm, but he would be a defensive liability in the outfield given his lack of range.

The Future: Velazquez will need to mash to profile as an everyday first baseman, but he has more than enough power to do so. He should start the 2025 season back with High-A Lake County.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 60.
BA Grade: 55/Extreme

Track Record: Velazquez starred at Southern California prep powerhouse Huntington Beach HS, where he hit 23 home runs in his career and helped the Oilers win the 2023 National High School Invitational. He was the top prep player in the state in 2023 and became the third first-round pick in the program’s history, joining Hank Conger (2006) and Nick Pratto (2016). Velazquez made a brief pro debut in the Arizona Complex League after signing and raked. He went 8-for-23 with two home runs and three doubles in six games.

Scouting Report: Velazquez stands out most for his bat. He has a quick, fluid lefthanded swing and generates easy above-average power. In a tiny ACL sample, Velazquez showed high-end exit velocity with an average reading of 89 mph and max near 109. He has a disciplined approach at the plate and makes good swing decisions, rarely expanding the strike zone. He made contact on pitches in the zone nearly 90% of the time in his brief pro debut, while chasing about 22% of the time. Unlike many young power hitters, Velazquez doesn’t sell out for power, instead relying on his bat speed and strength to drive the ball. Velazquez has intriguing tools behind the plate but his glove lags behind his bat. He receives well, has plus arm strength and earns praise for his makeup. To stick at catcher, Velazquez will have to improve his blocking and athleticism behind the plate. He’s a below-average runner, meaning first base would be his destination if he ever needed to change positions. As a lefthanded hitter with a chance to develop above-average hitting ability and plus power, Velazquez’s bat could one day profile at first base.

The Future: Velazquez will look to work on his defense as he starts his first full professional season at Low-A Lynchburg.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60

Draft Prospects

School: Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Arizona State
Age At Draft: 18.1
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 60. Run: 30. Field: 45. Arm: 60.

Velazquez has stood out from a young age with a fluid lefthanded swing that is quick, compact and powerful. He led Huntington Beach (Calif.) High to a National High School Invitational title this spring and finished his decorated prep tenure with 23 career home runs while playing some of the best competition in the country. Velazquez has a physical 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame and generates above-average power with his natural strength and solid bat speed. He has a good feel for picking out pitches to drive and sends towering drives over the right field fence with impressive ease. Velazquez doesn’t have to sell out to get to his power and consistently takes good swings against good pitching. He’s a mature, patient hitter who rarely expands the strike zone and has the hand-eye coordination, balance and pitch recognition to be at least an average hitter. Velazquez is one of the best prep hitters in the draft class, but his defense raises questions. He’s a well below-average runner whose lateral mobility, blocking and overall athleticism behind the plate are all below-average and need improvement. He sets up well and has the hand strength to stick pitches in the strike zone, providing some optimism he can stay behind the plate and avoid a move to first base. He has plus arm strength and a strong work ethic. Velazquez is committed to Arizona State but is signable. He projects to be selected in the top two rounds on the strength of his bat.