Andrew Velazquez helping Yankees has Bronx school buzzing
Just because school hasn’t started yet here in the Northeast, that doesn’t preclude Andrew Velazquez from being the talk of Fordham Prep.
“All the football guys know,” Pat Deane told The Post on Thursday afternoon. “The baseball guys know.”
Deane can speak confidently to that because he runs both programs for Velazquez’s alma mater. Because he saw Velazquez, toggling between shortstop and center field as a junior and then taking sole ownership of the shortstop position as a senior, rise to a prospect worthy of being selected by the Diamondbacks in the seventh round of the 2012 amateur draft.
Because earlier this season, Velazquez acceded to Deane’s request and, while playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, spoke to the entire school.
“He told them a little about his story. We had it in the auditorium,” said Deane, who added, “He deserves everything he gets.”
The 27-year-old got a little more on Thursday night. His third-inning triple and fourth-inning single sparked the Yankees to their seventh straight victory, 7-5 over the punching-bag Twins at Yankee Stadium, and 29th in 40 tries as they maintained their one-game edge over the A’s for the top wild-card slot in the American League.
“Today was fun,” Velazquez said.
“Squid had a good night,” Aaron Boone said, and … wait. “Squid”? “It’s something that was given to me in my second year in pro ball. Some coaches from the Diamondbacks gave it to me,” said Velazquez, who includes “Squid” on his Twitter handle. “A lot of stories behind that, but I guess the safest one is it comes from my last name.” When pressed that there had to be a less boring explanation, Velazquez said, “Probably hands. Could be hands, defense.” I like that better.
Velazquez, promoted to the major leagues on Aug. 9, when Gleyber Torres went on the injured list with a sprained left thumb, has joined the list of unlikely contributors to this Yankees rebound. While his overall numbers hardly overwhelm — he now owns a .269/.269/.385 slash line — he helped the Yankees sweep past the Red Sox by delivering three hits with runners in scoring position and executing a game-ending defensive play Wednesday. At a time when the Yankees are winning plenty, but closely, those moments stand out all the more, as did his contributions Thursday.
That he’s a hometown kid who’s actually living with his parents while playing for the New York Yankees — the third Fordham Prep product to do so, following Johnny Murphy and Snuffy Stirnweiss, as per former school president Joe Parkes — undoubtedly enhances his appeal to the masses.
“He made it,” Deane said. “I mean, he made it years ago when he played for Tampa Bay and everyone [Velazquez also played for the Orioles and Indians], but every kid’s dream is to play shortstop for the Yankees.”
As much as Deane enjoyed seeing Velazquez seal the Yankees’ win Wednesday night with his glovework, what capped the moment for the coach was the smile. “It was a great smile,” Deane said. “He’s enjoying playing the game. You make plays like that when you are enjoying it.”
“Even on the field, a lot of smiles today,” Velazquez echoed a few hours later. “Everybody was kind of upbeat.”
There’s nothing not to enjoy at the moment, not as Velazquez plays an integral role with his hometown team, inspiring the youngsters aiming to follow his lead. This upcoming season, Fordham Prep boasts of a senior shortstop named Carmelo Musacchia who already has committed to play for Northeastern. “He reminds me of Andrew,” Deane said. “I want Andrew to meet him and talk to him.”
If Velazquez and the Yankees keep pushing this hot streak, he’ll have plenty to discuss with admirers young, old and contemporary. The pride of The Bronx keeps making them prouder.
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