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Guardians' Ralphy Velazquez: Leaves park three times
Rotowire
Velazquez went 3-for-4 with a walk, three home runs and four RBI for Triple-A Columbus on Saturday.
Velazquez has been mashing for the Clippers of late, going deep 16 times over the last 20 contests. He had just four home runs over his first 48 games for Columbus. With 27 homers combined between Double- and Triple-A this season, Velazquez should be a top candidate to join the Guardians when rosters expand Sept. 1. Cleveland currently ranks 29th in home runs (123), last in slugging (.369) and last in OPS (.682).
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Guardians' Ralphy Velazquez: Raking over hit streak
Rotowire
Velazquez went 3-for-5 with two home runs, five RBI and an additional run scored for Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.
Velazquez extended a hit streak to six games, during which he's 10-for-26 (.385) with six home runs and 12 RBI. The Guardians addressed a need at first base at the deadline by adding Nathaniel Lowe, but Velazquez could get a look in September for a team starving for offense.
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Guardians' Ralphy Velazquez: In control at Double-A
Rotowire
Velazquez is slashing .344/.432/.594 with two home runs, one steal and 4:4 K:BB in eight games for Double-A Akron.
Velazquez has a 174 wRC+ as a 20-year-old at Double-A, picking up where he left off last year -- he had a 188 wRC+ in 28 games at Double-A in 2025. Given his extreme command of the zone and impactful power, Velazquez shouldn't be waiting long before getting a bump to Triple-A Columbus. He played 12 games in left field last year, but Velazquez has only started at first base so far this season.
Guardians' Ralphy Velazquez: On fire for RubberDucks
Rotowire
Velazquez is hitting .500 with four home runs and a 4:4 K:BB in six games since getting promoted to Double-A Akron on Aug. 11.
Velazquez had been dialed in at High-A Lake County prior to his promotion, as he slashed .336/.417/.598 with seven home runs and a 14.4 percent strikeout rate in his final 31 games for the Captains. The lefty-hitting first baseman/corner outfielder turned 20 in May, so he's young for Double-A but has been the best hitter at the level since arriving there last week.
The Guardians promoted Velazquez from Single-A Lynchburg to High-A Lake County on Monday.
Though the Guardians have seemingly closed the door on developing Velazquez as a catcher, the 19-year-old has cemented himself as one of the organization's top position prospects thanks to the slugging potential he brings as a first baseman. He put that power on display during his time with Lynchburg, notching 31 extra-base hits over 375 plate appearances while also keeping his strikeout rate (20 percent) in check. Velazquez will get a tougher test as he makes the move to the Midwest League, where he'll once again be one of the youngest hitters on the circuit.
Guardians' Ralphy Velazquez: Full-time first baseman
Rotowire
Velazquez has started 21 games at first base and zero games at catcher thus far for Single-A Lynchburg.
Velazquez was drafted with the 23rd overall pick last year as a bat-first catcher who might move to first base, and that transition has already taken place before his 19th birthday later this month. The lefty-hitting slugger may indeed offer the requisite offensive impact for first base, as he is slashing .264/.343/.505 with six home runs, a .242 ISO and a 20 percent strikeout rate in 105 plate appearances for the Hillcats as one of the youngest hitters in the Carolina League.
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