Jorge Velandia

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Jorge Velandia

|image=Swing and a Miss (cropped).jpg

|caption=Velandia with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2007

|position=Assistant General Manager

|team=Philadelphia Phillies

|number=

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1975|1|12}}

|birth_place=Caracas, Venezuela

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=June 20

|debutyear=1997

|debutteam=San Diego Padres

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=July 13

|finalyear=2008

|finalteam=Cleveland Indians

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.189

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=2

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=23

|teams=

San Diego Padres ({{mlby|1997}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|2000}})
New York Mets ({{mlby|2000}}–{{mlby|2001}}, {{mlby|2003}})
Tampa Bay Devil Rays ({{mlby|2007}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2008}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2008}})

}}

Jorge Luis Velandia Macías {{small|[veh-lahn'-deah]}} (born January 12, 1975) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop.

Playing career

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).{{Cite web |title=Jorge Velandia Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/velanjo01.shtml |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=Baseball Reference |language=en}} On December 1, 2006, the Devil Rays signed Velandia to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.{{Cite web|last=Topkin|first=Marc|date=December 2, 2006|title=Rays sign RHP Andrade, five others|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/12/02/rays-sign-rhp-andrade-five-others/|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en}} His first major league home run, which was a grand slam, came on September 25, 2007.{{Cite web|date=September 25, 2007|title=Rays delay Yanks' celebration with 10-inning win|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/270925130|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229085544/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/270925130|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 29, 2021|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=ESPN|publisher=Associated Press|language=en}}

In December 2007, Velandia signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{Cite web|last=Langosch|first=Jenifer|date=December 21, 2007|title=Notes: Bucs sign four to Minors deals|url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071221&content_id=2335933&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226115003/http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071221&content_id=2335933&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|archive-date=December 26, 2007|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=Pittsburgh Pirates|publisher=MLB.com}} He was released by the Pirates on March 29, 2008, and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays two days later. Velandia started the 2008 season playing for the Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Blue Jays. On May 7, his contract was purchased by the Blue Jays, and was added to the active roster.{{Cite news|last=Davidi|first=Shi|date=May 7, 2008|title=Jays purchase contract of Velandia|language=en-CA|work=The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/jays-purchase-contract-of-velandia/article18450099/|access-date=December 29, 2021}} On May 16, he was designated for assignment and declined an outright assignment on May 19, becoming a free agent.{{Cite web|date=May 19, 2008|title=Thorpe claimed by Mariners; Velandia becomes free agent|url=http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080519&content_id=2731884&vkey=pr_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528234231/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080519&content_id=2731884&vkey=pr_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor|archive-date=May 28, 2008|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=Toronto Blue Jays|publisher=MLB.com}} Velandia signed with the Cleveland Indians on May 26, 2008, and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.{{Cite web|date=May 26, 2008|title=Linden, Velandia Signed by Cleveland|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-403998|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}}

He was called up on June 12, to replace the injured Josh Barfield (who had been recently called up himself, for Asdrúbal Cabrera).{{Cite web|date=June 12, 2008|title=Indians Place Martinez, Barfield On 15-Day Disabled List|url=https://www.cleveland19.com/story/8482854/indians-place-martinez-barfield-on-15-day-disabled-list|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=WOIO|language=en}} Cabrera returned a month later, and Velandia was sent back to Buffalo.{{Cite web|last=Smirnoff|first=Jeff|date=July 17, 2008|title=The Impact of Asdrubal Cabrera's Return to the Cleveland Indians|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/38654-the-impact-of-asdrubal-cabreras-return-to-the-cleveland-indians|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}} He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on August 31. On January 22, 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.

Coaching career

After working for the Philadelphia Phillies as assistant minor league field coordinator, he was announced as an assistant coach for the Phillies upon former manager Ryne Sandberg's resignation on June 26, 2015.{{cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Jake|date=June 30, 2015|title=Phillies Notes: Phillies' Mackanin will be in interim role for rest of season|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20150701_Phillies__Mackanin_will_be_in_interim_role_for_rest_of_season.html|access-date=July 5, 2015|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}

Front office career

On December 22, 2020, the Phillies named Velandia as the team's assistant general manager under Sam Fuld.{{Cite web|last=Zolecki|first=Todd|date=December 22, 2020|title=Sam Fuld named new Phillies GM|url=https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/sam-fuld-phillies-general-manager|access-date=December 22, 2020|website=Philadelphia Phillies|publisher=MLB.com|language=en}}

On December 19, 2022, the Phillies extended Velandia's contract through the 2025 season.{{Cite web |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=December 19, 2022 |title=Phillies extend GM Sam Fuld's contract |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/sam-fuld-gets-contract-extension-from-phillies |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |language=en}}

References

Sources

{{Cite book |title=The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia |publisher=Sterling Publishing Company |year=2005 |isbn=9781402725685 |editor-last=Gillette |editor-first=Gary |language=en |editor-last2=Palmer |editor-first2=Peter |editor-last3=Shea |editor-first3=Stuart}}