Dover High grad back on the mound for Blue Hens, just when they need him most

Nothing is more important in a double-elimination baseball tournament than pitching depth.

As the University of Delaware enters the Coastal Athletic Association playoffs Wednesday, Dom Velazquez’s ability and availability give the Blue Hens a much-needed boost.

The 2020 Dover High graduate missed the 2023 season after needing reconstructive elbow surgery when he was hurt pitching in a Jan. 29 intrasquad game. When the right-hander returned to the mound April 7 this season in a game at Hofstra, it was his first outing since getting the win in a 5-4 triumph over Northeastern on May 20, 2022, at Hannah Stadium.

“It was awesome,” Velazquez said of returning to the mound after a recent UD game. “I had butterflies. Wasn’t sure if I was gonna throw up or not, a lot of nerves.

“Once I got out there, seeing the scenery, seeing all the guys in the dugout behind me, it felt like it was worth it. It was awesome.”

Throwing all 3 pitches

He just threw fastballs and change-ups that game, but Velazquez now has returned his reliable breaking ball to his repertoire, too.

Velazquez has now pitched 15⅓ innings, including a one-hit, five-inning start at Stony Brook on May 12 in which he threw a season-high 48 pitches. He has a 4.11 ERA.

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“Had all three pitches going,” Blue Hens coach Greg Mamula said.

Delaware (29-24) is the No. 4 seed and plays the CAA tourney opener at UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday at noon against No. 5 William & Mary (30-24). A win would send Delaware against either No. 1 Charleston (39-12) or No. 2 UNCW (36-19) on Thursday.

Velazquez could start Game 2

When Mamula calls on Velazquez, he knows what he’ll get.

“His stuff is good and he throws strikes,” Mamula said. “He’ll probably start Game 2 for us, and by that point, he should be ready to throw 60 or so pitches.

“If he’s as efficient as he was at Stony Brook, it should be five, six innings.”

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Velazquez had his Tommy John Surgery on March 26, 2023, and made a relatively quick comeback for what can often be at least a 15-month process for pitchers.

He approached his rehab with the necessary determination and diligence to get back this season.

“It was hard. It was heartbreaking, not being able to be out there with the guys,” he said of being sidelined. “It’s like a new challenge every day. You learn a lot about yourself, just how you overcome things.

“I just tried to have a positive attitude, one day at a time, step by step, one rehab session. Then just get ready for the next day.”

Pitching this year was the hope

As for pitching this year, Velazquez “knew it would be a possibility,” he said. “ … It feels great to be back.”

Velazquez was a first-team All-State pitcher as a Dover sophomore in 2018 and was second-team All-State as a pitcher and third-team All-State at third base as a junior in 2019.

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The coronavirus pandemic erased his senior season, but Velazquez still was named first-team All-State as both a pitcher and third baseman by the state’s coaches.

He then moved to Delaware and made an immediate impact, earning weekend starting opportunities and going 2-7 with a 6.45 ERA. Velazquez was then primarily a relief pitcher as a sophomore but improved his numbers with a 4-2 record and 4.76 ERA.

Now, two years and one major surgery later, Velazquez in once again providing some pitching prowess just when Delaware needs it most. After missing last season, he has another year of eligibility and will be back in 2025.

“I just want to put up zeroes and give the team the best chance to win,” Velazquez said. “Being in the conference tournament, everything is under a magnifying glass. Every pitch is so important, so it’s gonna be really cool to be out there.”

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Dover High grad back on the mound for Blue Hens, just when they need him most