Holmes, Velazquez Add Experience and Depth
Published on March 6, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Rockford Aviators News Release
LOVES PARK, Il. - The Rockford Aviators have announced the signing of right-handed pitcher, Colby Holmes, and utility player Greg Velazquez to the 2015 roster.
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Holmes spent the last two seasons with the Atlanta Braves organization where he posted a 4-4 record with a 3.95 ERA in 45 appearances.
"We're really excited to get Colby," said Aviators Manager, James Frisbie. "He comes highly recommended to us by a number of people and we look for him to be a back-end bullpen guy, maybe a setup or a closer."
Holmes was drafted out of Conway High School in South Carolina in the 47th Round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Braves. However, he chose to attend college before eventually signing with the Braves in 2013.
Holmes' talent was noticed early and he received received high praise from area scouts before he was ever at South Carolina.
"I think we got a big leaguer here," said Braves scout Billy Best said in a 2013 interview with WPDE in South Carolina. "We drafted him out of high school, his stuff is as good as anybody. He can really spin the breaking ball, that's probably the exceptional pitch he has."
The decision to attend college instead of jumping straight to the pros only helped Holmes improve his game.
A two-time College World Series Champion with the Gamecocks, Holmes posted 21 wins in his career and finished his senior season with a 5-2 record and a 3.76 ERA.
Velazquez, a rookie out of Cal-State Fullerton, is a player that can fit in anywhere on the field and will look to make an immediate impact with the Aviators this season.
"Greg comes highly recommended to us from his college head coach Rick Vanderhook," said Frisbie. "He's a tough kid who played through an injury all last season, but he has a lot of talent and we look forward to seeing what he can do during camp."
When one of the nation's best college baseball programs is right in your back yard, there's no need to go far from home.
Velazquez grew up in Fullerton, California and attended Fullerton High School where he grabbed the attention of Cal-State Fullerton coaches and chose to spend his college career there.
Through is four-year career, Velazquez played in 130 games and posted a career .253 batting average with seven home runs and 45 RBIs.
The Aviators open their 2015 campaign on the road against the Gateway Grizzlies on Friday, May 15 at 7:05 p.m. Opening Day at Aviators Stadium will be Tuesday, May 19 at 6:35 p.m. as the Aviators host the Traverse City Beach Bums.
For the most up-to-date information on everything Rockford Aviators or to purchase tickets to an upcoming game, visit www.rockfordaviators.com.
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- Holmes, Velazquez Add Experience and Depth - Rockford Aviators
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