Otto Velez
Born: 11/29/1950 in Ponce, P.R.
MLB Debut: 1973-09-04 | Final Game: 1983-08-07
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Otoniel Velez
Biography
Otto Velez was a professional baseball player known for his versatility and power during his career in Major League Baseball from 1973 to 1983. Born in 1950, Velez played primarily as a position player and appeared in 637 games. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 452 hits, with a notable total of 78 home runs and 272 RBIs, reflecting his ability to drive in runs and contribute offensively for his teams. His batting average settled at .251, showcasing his consistent presence at the plate.
Velez's career unfolded during a dynamic era in baseball, marked by a shift towards increased offensive production. He was part of a generation of players that helped set the stage for the power-hitting trends that would dominate the game in the following decades. Although he recorded only 6 stolen bases, Velez's overall impact was felt through his contributions to the teams he played for, leaving a lasting legacy as a reliable hitter in the league. His journey through Major League Baseball is a testament to the evolving nature of the game during the late 20th century.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 637 | 1802 | 244 | 452 | 87 | 11 | 78 | 272 | 6 | 336 | 414 | 0.251 | 0.369 | 0.441 | 0.810 | 5861.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | NYY | AL | 23 | 77 | 9 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 24 | 0.195 | -59.3 |
| 1974 | NYY | AL | 27 | 67 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 24 | 0.209 | 21.0 |
| 1975 | NYY | AL | 6 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | NYY | AL | 49 | 94 | 11 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 23 | 26 | 0.266 | 395.4 |
| 1977 | TOR | AL | 120 | 360 | 50 | 92 | 19 | 3 | 16 | 62 | 4 | 65 | 87 | 0.256 | 1016.9 |
| 1978 | TOR | AL | 91 | 248 | 29 | 66 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 38 | 1 | 45 | 41 | 0.266 | 941.0 |
| 1979 | TOR | AL | 99 | 274 | 45 | 79 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 48 | 0 | 46 | 45 | 0.288 | 1547.7 |
| 1980 | TOR | AL | 104 | 357 | 54 | 96 | 12 | 3 | 20 | 62 | 0 | 54 | 86 | 0.269 | 1372.7 |
| 1981 | TOR | AL | 80 | 240 | 32 | 51 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 28 | 0 | 55 | 60 | 0.212 | 677.0 |
| 1982 | TOR | AL | 28 | 52 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 15 | 0.192 | -51.4 |
| 1983 | CLE | AL | 10 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.080 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | ALCS | NYA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1976 | WS | NYA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 41 | 32 | 275 | 13 | 4 | 17 |
| 3B | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 276 | 239 | 512 | 21 | 15 | 7 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | NYA | OF | 23 | 23 | 45 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | NYA | 1B | 21 | 18 | 136 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| 1974 | NYA | 3B | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | NYA | OF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | NYA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1976 | NYA | 1B | 8 | 4 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1976 | NYA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | NYA | OF | 24 | 20 | 46 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1977 | TOR | OF | 79 | 72 | 140 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 1978 | TOR | 1B | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | TOR | OF | 74 | 58 | 150 | 10 | 3 | 4 |
| 1979 | TOR | 1B | 6 | 4 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1979 | TOR | OF | 73 | 64 | 130 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 1980 | TOR | 1B | 3 | 3 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1981 | TOR | 1B | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 41 |
| Third Base | 3 |
| Left Field | 88 |
| Right Field | 198 |
| Designated Hitter | 255 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Player of the Week | Week of 1979-07-27 |
| 1977 | Player of the Month | April |