Phillies demote Leiter, expect to activate Velasquez

The Phillies will make a corresponding move official on Tuesday after demoting Leiter

Following a 6-5 extra-innings loss in Miami, the Phillies announced a minor 25-man roster move. Reliever/spot-starter Mark Leiter. Jr will report to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, clearing a spot on the major league roster.

Expected to fill Leiter’s spot is Vincent Velasquez, who comes off a stint on the disabled list with a 2-5 record. Velasquez hasn’t pitched since May 30 after suffering a right elbow flexor strain in Miami. Now he’s expected to return to the scene of his most recent injury to make his 11th start of the season.

Velasquez has underwhelmed in the biggest season of his young career where the Phillies could decide whether to play him in the starting rotation or bullpen. High pitch counts, injuries, and an addition to strikeouts have plagued the 25-year-old righty since being acquired from the Astros for Ken Giles.

Philadelphia will presumably give Velasquez every opportunity to win a starting job, as he’s shown success at times with an above average fastball. Velasquez is averaging nearly 18 pitches per inning this year, just slightly up from last season when he averaged a hair under 17 pitches.

In 2017 Velasquez has managed just 50 innings through 10 starts with a 5.58 ERA, 11 home runs, 21 walks, and 53 strikeouts.

Unless he proves to stay healthy and cut down on his pitches per inning, Velasquez could develop into a lights-out major league closer.

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Leiter won’t spend too much time in Lehigh Valley, though whether he pitches out of the bullpen or in the starting rotation remains in question. The 26-year-old has made three major league starts and appeared out of the bullpen for Philadelphia, compiling a 4.08 ERA.

The son of former Phillie Mark Leiter Sr. might be a valuable piece moving forward out of the bullpen as a long relief pitcher. He’s settled into his role in the major leagues, and his ability to start could be valuable for a fragile pitching staff.