Diego Velasquez SS/2B. DOB: 10/1/2003. B-S, T-R. 6' 1", 150 lbs. International Amateur Free Agent Jan 2021.
2024(A+): .274/.357/.389, 16 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 18 SB, 10.1 BB%, 17.0 K%, 318 PA.
2024(AA): .313/.389/.374, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 9.4 BB%, 17.1 K%, 170 PA.
Before we get started with our profile, I saw Velasquez play for the A San Jose Giants in 2023 and let's just say he doesn't weigh 150 lbs. Velasquez signed a $900 K bonus in 2021. He was immediately assigned to the Arizona complex. His numbers for his first two pro seasons were not impressive but in 2023 he batted .298 with 8 HR over a full season with A level San Jose at age 19. He moved up to A+ for his age 20 season and put up similar numbers and got a mid-late season promotion to AA where he hit .312. Now, AA Richmond and Norwich before that have a long history of dashing the dreams of many Giants hitting prospects so I am impressed with a switch-hitting middle infielder who bats .312 there.
Velasquez is a prospect you don't hear much chatter about. The raps on him are he looks a bit chunky for a shortstop and he doesn't hit for enough power for a lesser defensive position. He's still young, though with plenty of time for power to come. Unfortunately he will run into the now-familiar dilemma for international prospects in that he will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft after his age 21 season. I would think he will start this season back in AA Richmond but should be somewhere on the Giants middle-infield depth chart for a potential call up although things would have to go far south for that development.
Before they signed Adames, you felt he might be just behind Fitzgerald on the SS organizational depth chart. That's a good line for AA.
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