Velasquez is headed to Korea to sign with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization. The right-hander has spent all of the 2025 season with Triple-A Columbus, posting a 3.42 ERA and 95:50 K:BB over 81.2 innings. Velasquez has not pitched in the big leagues since 2023.
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Guardians' Vince Velasquez: Sent outright to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Guardians outrighted Velasquez to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.
Velasquez passed through waivers unclaimed after exiting the Guardians' 40-man roster, and he appears as though he'll remain in the organization rather than electing free agency. The righty didn't make an appearance during his brief time with Cleveland and holds a 6.00 ERA and 11:16 K:BB over 15 innings covering four starts with Columbus this season.
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Guardians' Vince Velasquez: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Guardians designated Velasquez for assignment Friday.
Velasquez was added to the major-league roster earlier this week but didn't make an appearance. He will likely clear waivers, and assuming he does, would have the ability to elect free agency.
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Guardians' Vince Velasquez: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
The Guardians selected Velasquez's contract from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Velasquez is being promoted even after he posted a 6.00 ERA and 11:16 K:BB over 15 innings covering four starts with Columbus. He appears likely to be used only in mop-up duty.
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Guardians' Vince Velasquez: Goes to Cleveland as NRI
Rotowire
The Guardians signed Velasquez to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Velasquez made just nine appearances in 2023 and zero in 2024, but he should be fully recovered from UCL surgery on his right elbow. The 32-year-old was last seen in the big leagues with the Pirates in 2023, when he posted a 3.86 ERA and 37:14 K:BB over 37.1 frames. Velasquez will likely open the 2025 season in the rotation at Triple-A Columbus.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Moves to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Pirates transferred Velasquez (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Velasquez underwent season-ending surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow earlier this month, so his move to the 60-day IL doesn't come as much of a surprise. The 31-year-old righty will end the season with a 3.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 37 strikeouts through 37.1 innings. He'll become a free agent this offseason and figures to return midway through 2024.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Undergoes elbow surgery
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Velasquez underwent season-ending surgery Friday on his right elbow, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Velasquez was originally diagnosed with elbow inflammation when he lasted only two innings in his return from the injured list May 28, but further testing revealed the need for a surgical repair of his ulnar collateral ligament. He didn't undergo Tommy John surgery, but he could still miss a full calendar year while rehabbing. The 31-year-old right-hander finishes the 2023 campaign with a 3.86 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 37:14 K:BB in eight starts (37.1 innings). He is scheduled to become a free agent this winter.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Set for MRI
Rotowire
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Velasquez is set to undergo an MRI and receive further medical opinions after the right-hander exited his start in Saturday's loss to the Mariners with elbow discomfort, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Velasquez was shelved for about three and a half weeks with elbow inflammation before he returned from the 15-day injured list Saturday, only to suffer a setback with his throwing arm two innings into his start and returning to the IL a day later. The 30-year-old implied that he'll likely be in store for a lengthier absence than the previous one in his second stint on the IL, though he's optimistic that he'll pitch again in 2023. Expect a clearer timeline as well as a more precise diagnosis of his injury to become available once the results of the MRI are gathered.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Shelved with elbow discomfort
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Velasquez on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right elbow discomfort, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
After returning Saturday from a stint on the 15-day IL due to elbow inflammation, Velasquez lasted just two innings into his start against the Mariners before succumbing to a related injury. The Pirates haven't provided a firm diagnosis or timeline for Velasquez's return, but in light of his latest elbow-related setback, the right-hander acknowledged that he'll likely be in store for a longer period of time off than he had during his first stint on the IL, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Velasquez added that he's confident he'll be able to pitch again this season, but his absence for at least the next few weeks should reopen the door for the struggling Roansy Contreras to re-enter the rotation.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Removed with elbow discomfort
Rotowire
Velasquez was removed from Saturday's start against Seattle with right elbow discomfort. He allowed four runs on seven hits over two innings with three strikeouts and one walk before exiting, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Velasquez was making his first start since early May, as he was sidelined with inflammation in the same elbow. The right-hander should be considered day-to-day at this stage, but his next start is very much in doubt.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Starting Saturday
Rotowire
Velasquez (elbow) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday's game in Seattle.
Velasquez has been out since early May with elbow inflammation but will make it back to the rotation having missed less than a month. Prior to the injury, he recorded a 3.06 ERA in seven starts, though his ERA estimators (4.50 xFIP, 4.43 SIERA) suggest he deserved something much closer to his career 4.84 ERA.
Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Should rejoin rotation this weekend
Rotowire
Velasquez (elbow) returned to Pittsburgh on Wednesday and expects to be activated from the 15-day injured list to make a start at some point during the Pirates' upcoming series in Seattle this weekend, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Velasquez acknowledged that it's not his call when the Pirates choose to activate him, though general manager Ben Cherington told Justice delos Santos of MLB.com that "all signs point to" the right-hander being reinstated from the IL for his next outing. Though Velasquez was initially expected to make two minor-league rehab starts prior to being activated, he looks like he'll be ready to go after striking out four over 4.2 scoreless innings with Triple-A Indianapolis this past Saturday. Velasquez will most likely take back a spot in the Pittsburgh rotation from Luis Ortiz.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Confirmed for weekend return
Rotowire
Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed Wednesday that Velasquez (elbow) will return to the rotation this weekend in Seattle, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The safest bet is that Velasquez will slide into Luis Ortiz's spot Sunday, as Mitch Keller and Roansy Contreras are secure in their roles and currently line up to handle the first two games of the three-game series versus the Mariners. Out since May 5 due to right elbow inflammation, Velasquez tallied four strikeouts over 4.2 scoreless innings in his lone rehab start this past Saturday at Triple-A Indianapolis. He threw 63 pitches in that outing and should be able to handle 80-plus pitches in his return start with Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Could require another rehab start
Rotowire
General manager Ben Cherington said Sunday the Pirates have yet to decide if Velasquez (elbow) will require a second minor-league rehab start, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander made his first rehab outing with Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday and threw 63 pitches across 4.2 scoreless innings. Velasquez has been on the shelf with elbow inflammation since May 5, and Pittsburgh could want to see another start in the minors in order to further build up his workload before re-inserting him into the big-league rotation.
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Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Throwing side session Wednesday
Rotowire
Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Velasquez (elbow) will throw a side session Wednesday and make a rehab start later this week, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The rehab start is expected to take place with Triple-A Indianapolis. Velasquez threw a live batting practice session without issue Monday, and the 30-year-old has made enough progress from the inflammation in his right elbow to take the final step before rejoining the Pittsburgh pitching staff. Since Velasquez has thus far missed only two weeks due to the injury, he could need just one rehab start before making his return from the 15-day injured list.
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