The New York Yankees have formally launched veteran infielder Andrew Velazquez from his minor league contract, as introduced by their Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, on Sunday.

Velazquez, a switch-hitter and Bronx native, signed with the Yankees this previous January however did not make the membership’s 26-man Opening Day roster after hitting .214/.250/.333 in 44 plate appearances throughout spring coaching. He was subsequently assigned to Triple-A, the place he performed in 87 video games, slashing .244/.315/.342 with 4 house runs, 32 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases throughout 311 plate appearances.

Initially chosen by the Arizona Diamondbacks within the seventh spherical of the 2012 MLB Draft, Velazquez was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014 in a bundle deal for starter Jeremy Hellickson. He made his MLB debut with the Rays in 2018, showing in 23 video games earlier than being traded to the Cleveland Guardians in 2019, the place he performed in 5 extra.

After being designated for task by Cleveland in 2020, Velazquez was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles, the place he struggled offensively in the course of the pandemic-shortened season, posting a .159/.274/.206 slash line over 40 video games.

The Yankees introduced Velazquez again on a minor league deal in December 2020. He made 28 appearances for his hometown workforce in 2021, batting .224/.235/.358 and gaining reward for his glove work and hustle.

In November 2021, the Los Angeles Angels claimed Velazquez off waivers, and he spent a lot of the subsequent two seasons with the Halos. Throughout that stretch, he hit .191/.242/.300 with 11 homers, 31 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 179 video games.

He was later picked up by the Atlanta Braves in September 2023 and re-signed on a minor league deal for the 2024 season, although he by no means made a giant league look with the membership.

Now 30, Velazquez is a free agent as soon as once more, hoping to seek out one other alternative to contribute on the main league degree.