Right-hander Vince Velasquez—once a centerpiece in a major Philadelphia Phillies trade over a decade ago—has been called up to the Chicago Cubs’ major league roster, the team announced.
Velasquez narrowly missed facing his former team, as the Cubs had just completed a four-game sweep of the Phillies, capped by an 8–7 extra-inning win on Thursday, April 23.
During that game, veteran reliever Caleb Thielbar suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on the injured list, opening the door for Velasquez to take his spot on the roster.
The promotion marks a long-awaited return to the majors for Velasquez, who last pitched in MLB in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He most recently played overseas with the Lotte Giants in Korea.
Once ranked the No. 86 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline in 2015, Velasquez was part of a highly regarded class that included stars like Byron Buxton, Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, and Francisco Lindor. Originally drafted by the Houston Astros in 2010, he was later traded to the Phillies in a blockbuster deal that also involved several other players.
Velasquez debuted in Philadelphia’s rotation in 2016, posting a 4.12 ERA across 24 starts while flashing strong strikeout ability. He spent five seasons with the Phillies, providing steady if unspectacular production and never quite reaching the high expectations set during his prospect days.
One of his most memorable moments with the team came in an unusual situation when he played the outfield during an extra-inning game and threw out José Abreu at home plate.
The Cubs signed Velasquez to a minor league deal in February. After a solid showing in spring training and a decent start at Triple-A Iowa—where he recorded a 3.71 ERA and a strong strikeout rate—he’s now earned another opportunity in the majors. He’s expected to provide depth and flexibility out of Chicago’s bullpen, though he has also been used as a starter recently.
