Education
Velez finished the season hitting.195 with 2 Human Resources and 7 Reserve Bank of India in 23 games with the Yankees.
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Otto Velez
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Vélez was nicknamed "Otto the Swatto". New York Yankees (1973–1976)
Velez signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent on December 23, 1969, and worked his way through their minor league system and made his Major League Baseball debut with the team on September 4, 1973, where he recorded his first hit off of Detroit Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich. Velez hit his first career home run on September 23 off of Dick Tidrow of the Cleveland Indians in the second inning, then hit another home run in his next at-bat agaginst Tidrow in the fourth inning to lead the Yankees to a 9–1 victory over Cleveland.
Velez played in 27 games with the Yankees in 1974, batting.209 with 2 Human Resources and 10 Reserve Bank of India, then in 1975, he hit.250 with 0 Human Resources and 1 Reserve Bank of India in six games with New New York
Velez saw more playing with the Yankees in 1976, playing in 49 games, as he hit.266 with 2 Human Resources and 10 Reserve Bank of India, as New York reached the post-season. Velez appeared in one game, going hitless in one at-bat in the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals.
In the 1976 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Velez went 0 for 3 and struck out three times, as the Yankees lost the series. On November 5, 1976, Velez was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 MLB expansion draft.
Toronto Blue Jays (1977–1982)
Velez was named the Toronto Blue Jays opening day designated hitter in their first ever game on April 7, 1977, as he went 2 for 4 with a run, helping Toronto defeat the Chicago White Sox 9–5.
Velez was named American League Player of the Month for the month of April, as he hit.442 with 5 Human Resources and 18 Reserve Bank of India in 21 games. He had a very solid first season in Toronto, finishing the season with a.256 batting average with 16 Human Resources and 62 Reserve Bank of India in 120 games. Velez saw his offensive production dip in 1978, as he hit.266 with 9 Human Resources and 38 Reserve Bank of India in 91 games, but despite appearing in only 99 games in 1979, Velez improved to a.288 batting average with 15 Human Resources and 48 Reserve Bank of India. Velez had his best season in 1980, as in 104 games, he hit.269 with 20 Human Resources and 62 Reserve Bank of India. On May 4, Velez hit four home runs in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians, and this feat was notable in that Velez hit one of each possible home run in the doubleheader, that is, a solo, two-run, three-run home run as well as a grand slam, therefore "hitting for the cycle" in home runs.
His home run and Reserve Bank of India totals were the second highest on the team
Velez struggled in 1981, appearing in 80 games, batting.213 with 11 Human Resources and 28 Reserve Bank of India. In 1982, Velez appeared in only 28 games with Toronto, hitting.192 with 1 Human Resources and 5 Reserve Bank of India. On September 7, the Blue Jays released Velez. Cleveland Indians (1983)
On February 7, 1983, Velez signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent.
He would play in only 10 games with the Indians, hitting.080 with 0 Human Resources and 1 Reserve Bank of India. He retired after the season. Velez appeared in 637 games during his career, hitting.251 with 78 Human Resources and 272 Reserve Bank of India. He collected 452 career hits.
In four career playoff games, Velez had four at-bats, getting no hits and striking out three times.
