Jorge Velandia
| Jorge Velandia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Shortstop | |
| Born: January 12, 1975 Caracas, Venezuela |
|
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| June 20, 1997 for the San Diego Padres | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 13, 2008 for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .182 |
| Home runs | 2 |
| Runs batted in | 23 |
| Teams | |
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.
[edit] 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
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- ESPN (profile and daily update)
- Baseball Cube baseball statistics
- 1975 births
- Living people
- People from Caracas
- New York Mets players
- Oakland Athletics players
- San Diego Padres players
- Tampa Bay Devil Rays players
- Toronto Blue Jays players
- Cleveland Indians players
- Major League Baseball infielders
- Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
- Bristol Tigers players
- Lakeland Tigers players
- Memphis Chicks players
- Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players
- Edmonton Trappers players
- Norfolk Tides players
- Sacramento River Cats players
- Richmond Braves players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- Charlotte Knights players
- Durham Bulls players
- Syracuse Chiefs players
- Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
