The Philadelphia Phillies have stumbled into one of the worst starts in franchise history despite carrying one of Major League Baseball’s biggest payrolls, and an underperforming pitching staff has played a major role in the early struggles.
Philadelphia’s starting rotation had been one of the club’s biggest strengths in recent years, but things have changed quickly. With Zack Wheeler recovering from surgery, Jesus Luzardo battling inconsistency, and Taijuan Walker no longer on the roster, the rotation has become one of several concerns for the team.
As the Phillies work to fix their problems before the season slips away, some fans may be looking back fondly at former pitchers who once gave the franchise hope. One former fan favorite is now back in the majors after landing with one of the National League’s top teams.
Marquee Sports Network’s Taylor McGregor reported that the Chicago Cubs selected the contract of Vince Velasquez, who spent six seasons with the Phillies and burst onto the scene during the 2016 campaign.
“Velasquez will be making a return to the MLB mound for the first time since a short (yet effective) stint with Pittsburgh in 2023,” Drew Tweedie wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “More recently, he pitched with the KBO Lotte Giants to poor results, with an 8.23 ERA in 35 innings. While there’s an element of misfortune there (ERA predictor xFIP gauged him closer to a 5-ERA performance), it probably wasn’t the results Velasquez was hoping for on his foray into Korea.”
Velasquez originally began his MLB career with the Houston Astros in 2015 before being traded to Philadelphia. During 116 starts with the Phillies, he recorded 642 strikeouts while posting a 4.93 ERA. Still, many Phillies fans remember him most for one unforgettable performance early in his time with the club.
“Ten years ago … Velasquez authored one of the most dominant pitching performances in the 144-year history of the Philadelphia Phillies,” Matt Gelb wrote for The Athletic earlier this season. “He was 23 years old, making his first start at Citizens Bank Park… And he struck out 16 batters while walking none in a three-hit shutout of the San Diego Padres.”
That outing remains one of the greatest strikeout games in franchise history. His 16 strikeouts were the third most ever by a Phillies pitcher, and he became just the third pitcher age 23 or younger to throw a 16-strikeout shutout without issuing a walk, joining Dwight Gooden and Kerry Wood.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Former Starter Making MLB Return Long After Historic Debut
Still, Velasquez was unable to maintain that early momentum in Philadelphia. His time with the Phillies gradually declined before he departed for the San Diego Padres in 2021. He later spent time with the Chicago White Sox and made his last MLB appearance with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Now, he is set for another opportunity in the majors with the Cubs, likely working out of the bullpen as Chicago pushes for a National League pennant.
“Most likely, Velasquez’s role will be to soak up some innings as the long reliever in the bullpen when the score goes sideways,” Tweedie added. “It remains to be seen how effective he’ll be in his role, given his MLB layoff, but at the very least, he’s a once-proven MLB arm with ample experience.”