Jorge Velandia
Encyclopedia
Jorge Luis Velandia Macias [ve-LAHN-deah] (born January 12, 1975 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a former Major League Baseball
shortstop
.
Velandia played with the San Diego Padres
(1997), Oakland Athletics
(1998–2000), New York Mets
(2000–2003), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2007), Toronto Blue Jays
(2008), and Cleveland Indians
(2008). On December 1, 2006, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed Velandia to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training
. His first major league home run
, which was a grand slam
came on September 25, 2007.
He started the 2008 season playing for the Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
. On May 7, his contract was purchased by the Blue Jays, and was added to the active roster. On May 16, he was designated for assignment and declined an outright assignment on May 19 becoming a free agent
. Velandia signed with the Cleveland Indians on May 27, 2008, and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons
.
He was called up on June 12, to replace the injured Josh Barfield
(who had been recently called up himself, for Asdrubal Cabrera
). Cabrera returned a month later, and Velandia was sent back to Buffalo. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
on August 30. On January 15, 2009, Velandia signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Velandia was the captain of Tiburones de La Guaira
in the Venezuelan Winter League until his retirement of active duty in January 2010.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
.
Velandia played with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(1997), Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1998–2000), New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(2000–2003), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2007), Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
(2008), and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(2008). On December 1, 2006, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed Velandia to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. His first major league home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, which was a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
came on September 25, 2007.
He started the 2008 season playing for the Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. On May 7, his contract was purchased by the Blue Jays, and was added to the active roster. On May 16, he was designated for assignment and declined an outright assignment on May 19 becoming a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Velandia signed with the Cleveland Indians on May 27, 2008, and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
.
He was called up on June 12, to replace the injured Josh Barfield
Josh Barfield
Joshua LaRoy Barfield is a second baseman who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He is the son of former major league outfielder Jesse Barfield. Barfield was born in Venezuela during his mother's two-week winterball visit with his father...
(who had been recently called up himself, for Asdrubal Cabrera
Asdrúbal Cabrera
Asdrúbal José Cabrera is a switch-hitting infielder for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.After coming up through the Seattle Mariners organization, he was acquired by the Indians on June 30, 2006, in exchange for Eduardo Perez...
). Cabrera returned a month later, and Velandia was sent back to Buffalo. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
on August 30. On January 15, 2009, Velandia signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Velandia was the captain of Tiburones de La Guaira
Tiburones de La Guaira
The Tiburones de La Guaira are a baseball team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Based in the city of La Guaira, the Tiburones have won seven national championships since their founding in 1962.-History:...
in the Venezuelan Winter League until his retirement of active duty in January 2010.
Sources
- The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-4027-4771-3
- ESPN (profile and daily update)
- Baseball Cube baseball statistics