WAPPINGERS FALLS- For the second straight week and the fifth time this season a Hudson Valley Renegades pitcher has been named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week. Right hand pitcher Luis Velasquez was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 24, 2023, through July 30, 2023, MLB announced.
Velasquez had a dominant week out of the bullpen for the Renegades, tossing 5.2 perfect innings and striking out eight batters. He picked up the win in both of the Renegades’ shutout wins against the Hickory Crawdads last week while striking out an impressive 47.1 percent of batters faced on the week.
Since June 28, Velasquez has posted a 2-0 record with a 0.68 ERA (1 ER/13.1 IP) and has allowed six hits while striking out 17. His 3.2 inning performance on July 26 was his longest outing since tossing 4.0 innings on August 20, 2019, against the DSL Angels.
Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Yankees on April 26, 2019, Velasquez began the season with the Single-A Tampa Tarpons, and was promoted to the Renegades on June 6. In recognition of his award, the Renegades will make a $500 donation in Velasquez’s name to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center Health Network before a game on the Renegades’ next homestand.
In picking up the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week Award, he becomes the sixth Renegades weekly award this season. He joins right hand pitchers Juan Carela (April 17-23), right hand pitcher Drew Thorpe (May 29-June 4; July 17-23), and RHP Tyrone Yulie, who were named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week, and outfielder Aaron Palensky who was named South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of May 22-28.
Hudson Valley is on the road this week taking on the Wilmington Blue Rocks before returning home to Heritage Financial Park on Tuesday, August 8 to take on the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.
