Arizona Diamondbacks Sign 6-Year Veteran Infielder
Velazquez, 31, had been in the Texas Rangers organization on a non-roster invite since December.
He appeared in 16 spring training games for Texas and batted just .111/.194/.185 across 32 plate appearances.
The Rangers released him at the end of March, and Velazquez spent several weeks as a free agent before landing with Arizona.
He has not appeared in the majors since the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Angels, and has spent the past two years at the Triple-A level with the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees organizations respectively.
What He Actually Brings
Velazquez is not going to fix anything for the Diamondbacks at the big league level.
His last meaningful sample as an above-average hitter came back in 2021, when he posted a 119 wRC+ in 306 plate appearances at Triple-A.
Since then, he has shown minimal power at every level without compensating with enough contact or on-base ability to profile as a useful offensive player.
Andrew Velazquez makes a SPECTACULAR play 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bqH8TWegQh
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 22, 2025
In 368 plate appearances with the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate last season, he batted .242/.304/.345 with a 74 wRC+, which was roughly in line with what he has been for the past several years.
Where he does stand out is on the bases. Velazquez has stolen 58 bases in 224 minor league games since the start of 2024, and that speed gives him fringe value that keeps organizations interested.
Defensively, he has primarily played shortstop at the major league level.
In 2022 with the Angels, he posted 11 Defensive Runs Saved and 3 Outs Above Average in 906 innings at the position.
He regressed in a smaller sample the following year, but his track record as a capable defensive presence at short is real.
The Diamondbacks are also listing him as a utilityman rather than a strict infielder, indicating some outfield work he has taken on at the minor league level since 2024.
Where He Fits in Arizona
There is no path to playing time for Velazquez unless something goes wrong for one of the Diamondbacks' regulars.
Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte are locked in at shortstop and second base respectively, with Perdomo coming off a breakout 2025 season and entering the first year of a new contract extension.
Marte has one of the better track records of any second baseman in the National League over the past several years.
Nice over-the-shoulder grab by Andrew Velazquez! pic.twitter.com/uj6fNlD57h
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 27, 2023
Nolan Arenado, 35, has struggled offensively and defensively at third base early in the season, but his career numbers give him room to work through it.
Velazquez is not pushing any of those three out of the lineup.
At best, he is an emergency option who gets a call if an injury opens a spot, and who gives Arizona a player with legitimate speed and defensive versatility at the Triple-A level.
Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
