Virgil Matthew Vasquez (born June 7, 1982) is a former

right-handed In human biology, handedness is an individual's preferential use of one hand, known as the dominant hand, due to and causing it to be stronger, faster or more Fine motor skill, dextrous. The other hand, comparatively often the weaker, less dext ...

professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

and the current pitching coach for the

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A baseball team nicknamed the ...

, the Triple-A affiliate of the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

. He completed a 12-year professional pitching career with 5 different

MLB Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

organizations while appearing in parts of two

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

seasons with the

and

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

. He has a 101-92 record in his 12 years as a professional pitcher. During 2021 he will serve as the

pitching coach In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, who determines the starting lineup and batting order, decides how to substitute players during the game, and makes strategy decision ...

of the

Wichita Wind Surge The Wichita Wind Surge are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Wichita, Kansas, and began play in 2021 at Equity Bank Park. The Wind Surge were supposed to be ...

Early life and education

Vasquez was born in

Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...

. He went 23-3 in his final two years of high school with 179

strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...

s while also hitting over .400. Vasquez was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 7th round of the

2000 Major League Baseball Draft The 2000 Major League Baseball draft, was the annual choosing of high school and college baseball players, held in June 2000. A total of 1,452 players were drafted. First round selections Compensation picks Background The Florida Marlins ...

out of

Santa Barbara High School Santa Barbara Senior High School, "Home of the Dons," is situated on a sprawling campus in Santa Barbara, California in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Among the oldest high schools in California and one of five high schools in the Di ...

, but chose to attend the

University of California, Santa Barbara The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Tracing its roots back to 1891 as an ...

, instead. He finished his college career with 189 strikeouts, the eighth most in school history. Vasquez was then selected by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round of the

2003 Major League Baseball Draft The 2003 Major League Baseball draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams. ''Source:MLB.com 2003 Draft Tracker' First round selections Supplemental first r ...

Playing career

Detroit Tigers

Vasquez began the 2006 season with the Double-A

Erie SeaWolves The Erie SeaWolves are an American professional baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They compete in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) as a member of the Eastern League's Southwest Division, serving as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Ti ...

of the Eastern League, where he finished in the top ten for

earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...

complete game In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...

s allowed,

innings pitched In baseball, the statistic innings pitched (IP) is the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of Batter (baseball), batters and baserunners that have been put out while the pitcher is on the Baseball field#Pitcher's mou ...

games started In baseball statistics, games started (denoted by GS) indicates the number of games pitched, games that a pitcher has starting pitcher, started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he throws the first pitch to the first opp ...

and losses. He was promoted to the Triple-A

in early September 2006. After starting the 2007 campaign in Toledo, he was called up by the Tigers to make a spot

start Start can refer to multiple topics: * Takeoff, the phase of flight where an aircraft transitions from moving along the ground to flying through the air * Starting lineup in sports * Track and field#Starts use in race, Starts use in sport race * S ...

in place of

Jeremy Bonderman Jeremy Allen Bonderman (born October 28, 1982) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Bonderman played in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners from 2003 to 2010 and in 2013. High school Bonderman atten ...

on May 11. Facing the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

, he allowed six runs in 2.2

inning In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other tea ...

s to take the loss. He jumped back and forth between Detroit and Toledo several times over the remainder of the season. In five games at the major league level, he went 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA.

Pittsburgh Pirates

After spending all of 2008 in Toledo, he was claimed off waivers by the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

. Two months later, he was claimed off waivers by the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

, followed by a third waiver claim by the

two weeks after that. He began the 2009 season with the Triple-A

Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory ...

before earning a promotion to the Pirates major league roster on June 26, 2009. He won his first start against the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

, allowing two runs in six innings while striking out seven. In seven starts and fourteen appearances with the Pirates, he amassed a 2-5 record, with a 5.84 ERA, gave up 58 hits, allowed 29 earned runs, gave up 6 home runs, hit 3 batters, walked 18 batters, struck out 29, in 44.2 innings pitched. He was traded to the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

on April 1, 2010. On April 23, he suffered two broken wrists in a vehicle accident, when the scooter he was driving was hit by a car.Wiseman, Steve.
Right back at it
, The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC), April 25, 2010. After which, he began a vigorous rehabilitation program, to not only return to his original capabilities, but to add to his repertoire a high-speed cutter, movement and command to his fastball, and a curve to throw anytime in the count. He signed a minor league contract with the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...

in January 2011 but was released in April before he pitched in the organization. He spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons with the

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are an American professional baseball team based in Waldorf, Maryland. They are members of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent "partner league" of Major League Base ...

of the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, and the headquarters are l ...

. In August 2014 in his final season as an active pitcher with the AA New Britain Rock Cats, he no-hit the Harrisburg Senators, 9-0.

Australian Baseball League

Vasquez was called to the

Australian Baseball League The Australian Baseball League (ABL) is a professional baseball league in Australia. The league is governed by the Australian Baseball Federation (ABF). It uses the same name as a now-defunct competition held during the 1990s, and though it s ...

(ABL) to help the

Perth Heat The Perth Heat is a baseball team in the current Australian Baseball League and a founding member of the Australian Baseball League. It is the most successful team in ABL history, winning 15 Claxton Shields. Australian Baseball League (1989– ...

during the 2011-12 Championship season. Vasquez was named the ABL Championship Series MVP for his Game 1 performance. During which he threw a complete game, surrendering 5 hits, and 1 run. Collecting 8 strikeouts and 0 walks over 122 pitches, 92 of them strikes, and in the 9th pitching at 91 mph. "He showed great stamina, as well, maintaining his velocity throughout the contest.... Showing that he is not only healthy, but ready to excel once again."Ross Romano

, The Official Site of the Perth Heat. February 13, 2012. He returned to the Perth Heat the following ABL season where he was signed by the

. The Melbourne Aces called upon Vasquez as a pitcher and pitching coach in the 2015-16 & the 2016-17 seasons and then fully into the pitching coach role for the 2017-18 season. During his time in the ABL, he has coached alongside; Jon Deeble, Joe Vavra, Jim Bennett, Craig Albernaz, Phil Dale, & Peter Moylan. He has also been a part of 4 ABL All-Star Games.

Coaching career

Vasquez started his coaching career with the

GCL Twins The Florida Complex League Twins are the Rookie-level affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex. Prior to 2021, the ...

from 2015-2017. In 2018, under the new

Twins Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of Twin Last Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two e ...

leadership of Derek Falvey &

Thad Levine Thad Levine (born November 12, 1971) is an American professional baseball executive. He formerly served as the senior VP and general manager for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2017 to 2024. Early life and education ...

, a progressive use of analytics was adopted. Vasquez split the season, coaching half in Extended Spring Training and the other in AA with the

Chattanooga Lookouts The Chattanooga Lookouts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team plays its home g ...

as the assistant pitching coach under Ivan Arteaga. In 2019, Vasquez was the pitching coach for the

Cedar Rapids Kernels The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and play their home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium (Cedar Rapids), Veter ...

. With the Kernels, he created a positive environment of growth while using cutting-edge technology that propelled his pitching staff to the playoffs while setting a franchise record in

strikeouts In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...

at 1,240 while the Twins minor league system, as a whole, led all MiLB in FIP at 3.37. 2021, Vasquez is a co-pitching coach with Luis Ramirez for the

, the AA affiliate with the Twins. During his time as a professional coach, he has worked alongside;

Bob McClure Robert Craig McClure (born April 29, 1952) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1975 to 1993, most notably as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers with whom ...

LaTroy Hawkins LaTroy Hawkins (born December 21, 1972) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. In his 21-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he played for the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Ro ...

, Tommy Watkins, Josh Kalk, Jeremy Zoll, Alex Hassen, Tony Diaz, Pete Maki, Cibney Bello, Justin Willard, Brian Dinkelman, Ramon Borrego, Jared Gaynor, Billy Boyer, Tanner Swanson, Pete Fatse, Luis Ramirez, Ryan Smith, Zach Bove and Daniel Adler. He has also had 4 playoff berths as a coach. In 2025, he was named assistant pitching coach of the

the Triple-A affiliate of the

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasquez, Virgil 1982 births Living people Baseball coaches from California Baseball players from Santa Barbara, California Detroit Tigers players Durham Bulls players Erie SeaWolves players Gulf Coast Rays players Indianapolis Indians players Lakeland Tigers players Major League Baseball pitchers Minor league baseball coaches New Britain Rock Cats players Oneonta Tigers players Perth Heat players Phoenix Desert Dogs players Pittsburgh Pirates players Rochester Red Wings players Southern Maryland Blue Crabs players Santa Barbara High School alumni Toledo Mud Hens players UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball players West Michigan Whitecaps players American expatriate baseball players in Australia