Ralphy Velazquez likes to “keep it simple” when he is at bat for the Akron RubberDucks.
That approach has led to success for Velazquez, who entered Aug. 3 with a .323 batting average, 23 hits, 15 runs scored, five home runs, four doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs in 17 games with the Double-A RubberDucks.
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“I am just trying to hit something hard up the middle of the field and keep it simple,” Velazquez said before a game on Aug. 20 at Canal Park.
The Cleveland Guardians selected Velazquez, a left-handed hitter, with the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Huntington Beach High School in California. He played mostly catcher and first base in high school and is now playing first base and in the outfield.
“I feel like outfield and first base opens a lot of doors,” Velazquez said. “I gotta keep working on them and continue building, and just continue playing the game hard at both positions.”
Velazquez, 20, is in his second full season of professional baseball and is ranked the No. 10 prospect in the Guardians organization according to MLBPipeline.com. He was ranked the No. 5 prospect in the Guardians organization before the season by Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com.
Akron RubberDucks designated hitter Ralphy Velazquez readies himself during the first inning of a Minor League Baseball game at Canal Park, Aug. 21, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
Velazquez, who is 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, was promoted to Akron on Aug. 11 from Single-A Lake County, where he batted .245 in 94 games this season with 91 hits, 59 runs, 17 home runs, 20 doubles, six triples and 63 RBIs.
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Velazquez made a great first impression with the RubberDucks by being named the Eastern League Player of the Week on Aug. 18. He hit .545 (12-for-22) with nine runs scored, four home runs, seven RBIs, four doubles and a triple in five games played against Reading from Aug. 11-17.
Velazquez is the third RubberDucks player to be named EL Player of the Week this season, joining current Guardian CJ Kayfus and current teammate Jorge Burgos.
Akron RubberDucks designated hitter Ralphy Velazquez watches his shot down the first base line during the fifth inning of a Minor League Baseball game at Canal Park, Aug. 21, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
“This is a great group of guys and a fun team,” Velazquez said. “I am excited to keep playing and finish the season here.
“… I am on a good streak right now. I am hitting the ball well and having good approaches, and just riding the wave. I gotta keep it going and have a gameplan.”
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians prospect Ralphy Velazquez showing talent at bat and in field