Otto Vélez
Otto Vélez | |
---|---|
Outfielder / Designated hitter | |
Born: Ponce, Puerto Rico | November 29, 1950|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 4, 1973, for the New York Yankees | |
Last MLB appearance | |
August 7, 1983, for the Cleveland Indians | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .251 |
Home runs | 78 |
Runs batted in | 272 |
Teams | |
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Otoniel "Otto" Vélez Franceschi (born November 29, 1950[1]), nicknamed "Otto the Swatto",[2] is a Puerto Rican former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1973 to 1983.
Major league career
New York Yankees (1973–1976)
Vélez signed with the
Vélez played in 27 games with the Yankees in 1974, batting .209 with 2 HR and 10 RBI, then in 1975, he hit .250 with no home runs and one RBI in six games with New York.
Vélez saw more playing with the Yankees in 1976, playing in 49 games, as he hit .266 with 2 HR and 10 RBI, as New York reached the post-season. Vélez appeared in one game, going hitless in one at-bat in the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals. In the 1976 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Velez went 0-for-3 and struck out three times, as the Yankees lost the series.
Toronto Blue Jays (1977–1982)
On November 5, 1976, the
Vélez saw his offensive production dip in 1978, as he hit .266 with 9 HR and 38 RBI in 91 games, but despite appearing in only 99 games in 1979, Velez improved to a .288 batting average with 15 HR and 48 RBI.
Vélez had his best season in 1980, as in 104 games, he hit .269 with 20 HR and 62 RBI. On May 4, Vélez hit four home runs in a doubleheader against the
Vélez struggled in 1981, appearing in 80 games, batting .213 with 11 HR and 28 RBI. In 1982, Vélez appeared in only 28 games with Toronto, hitting .192 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. On September 7, the Blue Jays released Velez.
Cleveland Indians (1983)
On February 7, 1983, Vélez signed with the
Vélez appeared in 637 games during his career, hitting .251 with 78 HR and 272 RBI. He collected 452 career hits. In four career playoff games, Velez had four at-bats, getting no hits and striking out three times.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Otto Velez Biography. IMDB. 2018. Accessed March 29, 2018
- ^ Otto Velez Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed on October 9, 2012.
- ^ Otto Vélez. BaseballReference.com Accessed March 29, 2018.
- ^ Otoniel Velez, Born: 11/29/1950 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. MLB Advanced Media. Accessed March 29, 2018.
- ^ 1983 Cleveland Indians Roster. Baseball-Almanac, Inc. Accessed March 29, 2018.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)