15th Round - Derick Velazquez: RHP, Merced Col, (CA)

[shaggyjay]

http://www.losbanosenterprise.com/2012/06/29/182673/former-los-banos-player-balancing.html

Interesting update on the possibility of Velazquez signing or not.

[coe76]

Maybe it is just me but he comes across as pretty cocky and inflexible. Hope that does not translate into issues in the clubhouse. Obviously has the talent and I hope he signs. Just wish the waiting was over for all the top draftees to sign.

[Frobby]

Maybe it is just me but he comes across as pretty cocky and inflexible. Hope that does not translate into issues in the clubhouse.

He seems reasonable to me. Clearly he feels that if he goes to Fresno and waits a year or two, he'll be in a position to earn more than $500 k. It seems he's been very clear with the Orioles about what he wants, and probably was clear about it before he was drafted. The O's drafted him knowing what it was going to take.

[Lucky Jim]

Maybe it is just me but he comes across as pretty cocky and inflexible. Hope that does not translate into issues in the clubhouse. Obviously has the talent and I hope he signs. Just wish the waiting was over for all the top draftees to sign.

I'm not sure expressions of explicit flexibility pre-negotiation is a very good strategy. I mean, we'll see what happens. I'm okay with him having a number in mind, provided it hasn't changed post-draft.

[paulcoates]

Why did he wait until the 15th round to get drafted if he was a top 100 player. Seems to me that he should have gone in the 11th round if he didnt go in the top 3 rds

[Can_of_corn]

Better yet, why wasn't he just drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round where 500K would have gotten him signed? He sounds like a legit 2nd or 3rd round talent. Teams must have considered him lower than that, I guess. This all comes down to Gausman signing for at least 300-400K under slot but it doesn't look good to me. As I've already said, it looks like Gausman and the O's are playing a game of chicken with Gausman wanting the full slot (4.2M) and the O's at something lower (probably 3.5-3.8M). This likely goes down to the wire and even if the O's get him at their number it might be too late to also sign Velasquez. Colin Poche may also be looking at overslot in the 5th round so I don't think we sign both Poche and Velasquez although that is the best case scenario. The key is getting Gausman signed underslot in time to get the other two signed with the savings.

No it doesn't. If the O's are willing to pay the monetary tax for going up to 5% over then they have a bit over 500K to spend on him. As long as nobody goes overslot then the money is there.

[Tony-OH]

At the end of the day, the kid has a number and he slipped to the 15th round because most teams didn't think he was worth that number. The Orioles probably took a flier and thought they'd see where their budget came in at and I'm sure they are watching him pitch this summer (I'm assuming he's pitching somewhere). If they sign him, great, more depth. If not, the world won't end.

[xian4]

Gone to Fresno State.

[weams]

Gone to Fresno State.

"It's always been my dream to play D-I baseball. I actually wanted to try to walk on to Fresno State straight out of high school but I wanted to have a chance to get a scholarship by going through the junior college route."

Mission accomplished.

Derick Velazquez went 11-0 in his one season at Merced College. The Baltimore Orioles took him in the 15th round, knowing they'd have to pay a lot of money to sign him.

"It's around 500...500,000," he smiled, adding, "A few scouts that were giving me advice, they were letting me know that if the money wasn't right, going to school and having an opportunity to get better and go higher was okay to do."

And that's what he's doing, with no regrets.

Two years ago, Derick Velazquez was starring for Los Banos High. Next year, and potentially for two more years after that since he'll have three years of eligibility, he'd like to do the same for Fresno State.

"I think we've got several guys that are gonna fight it out for that Friday night job," said Fresno State head coach Mike Batesole via phone, since he's on the road recruiting right now. "It won't just be (Tyler) Linehan and Velazquez, I think we might have four or five guys fighting it out for that job."

Says Velazquez, "I'm not sure about being the ace because they have one pitcher that's doing pretty good. I could compete for that spot with him but they would like me to be maybe a Saturday starter.

"The door is just opened. I still have a whole flight of stairs to get to where I want to be."

http://www.cbs47.tv/mostpopular/story/Fresno-Fiat-Sidelines-Spotlight-Derick-Velazquez/MLkzjIGGE0OuKUH11ZAQ4Q.cspx

[Tony-OH]

He went 4-2 with a 4.40 ERA in 75.2 innings pitched at Fresno State. Batters hit .305 and he had a 36-52 BB-K ratio. I doubt he raised his stock from last year, but will have his junior year next year to make a come back.