Jorge Velandia

Infobox MLB player
name=Jorge Velandia


width=300
position=Shortstop
team=Tampa Bay Rays
number=--
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|1|12
birthplace=Caracas, Venezuela
debutdate=June 20
debutyear=1997
debutteam=San Diego Padres
statyear=May 27, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.182
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=2
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=23| teams=
*San Diego Padres (by|1997)
*Oakland Athletics (by|1998-by|2000)
*New York Mets (by|2000-by|2001, by|2003)
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2007)
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|2008)
*Cleveland Indians (by|2008)

Jorge Luis Velandia Macias [ve-LAHN-deah] (born January 12, 1975 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He bats and throws right-handed.

Velandia has played with the San Diego Padres (mlby|1997), Oakland Athletics (mlby|1998-mlby|2000), New York Mets (2000-mlby|2003), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (mlby|2007), Toronto Blue Jays (mlby|2008), and Cleveland Indians (2008).

On December 1, by|2006, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed Velandia to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. His first major league home run, which was a grand slam came on September 25, 2007.

He started the by|2008 season playing for the Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. On May 7, his contract was purchased by the Blue Jays, and was added to the active roster. On May 16, he was designated for assignment and declined an outright assignment on May 19 becoming a free agent. Velandia signed with the Cleveland Indians on May 27, 2008, and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.

He was called up on June 12, to replace the injured Josh Barfield (who had been recently called up himself, for Asdrubal Cabrera). Cabrera returned a month later, and Velandia was sent back to Buffalo. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on August 30.

External links

* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5836 ESPN (profile and daily update)]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/v/velanjo01.shtml Baseball Reference (statistics and analysis)]
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/V/Jorge-Velandia.shtml Baseball Cube baseball statistics]