Girardi on Vince Velasquez: 'He’s Looked Really Good'

Pitcher Vince Velasquez once again has a chance to impress and dazzle Phillies coaches with his electric arm and stuff. It’s been this way since the Phillies acquired the right-hander from the Houston Astros in the Ken Giles deal back in 2015.

Injury and inconsistency during his tenure with the Phillies, has kept him from going deep into games, resulting in 26-33 record and 4.70 ERA during his time in Philadelphia.

This could be the final chance to Velasquez to impress, as the Phillies have a new staff, and time and patience could be running out on his talented arm. So far, he’s got the Phillies buzzing about him just more than a week out from the 2020 opener.

“He’s looked really good,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi told Phllies.com. “I don’t think you could ignore what he’s doing.”

Velasquez's work this offseason included adding a new pitch, a cutter.

“I think it’s been a big pitch for him,” Girardi said. “It’s allowed him to use both sides of the plate. He got better as the game went on. I thought his curveball was good. He looked really good. He’s looked really good his last two outings.”

He is in line to potentially earn the Phillies No. 5 spot in the rotation, maybe this is finally the year he puts it all together.