WASHINGTON — Felipe Vazquez set down his belongings at a locker stall not far from the one he occupied for almost two seasons with the Nationals and greeted Mike Wallace, his former team's clubhouse manager. Vazquez then tried on his red National League All-Star jersey.
"It actually felt kind of awkward for me," Vazquez said with a laugh. Vazquez, the Pirates' lone representative at Major League Baseball's 89th All-Star Game, made his big league debut for the Nationals in April 2015 and wore their team colors until July 2016, when he was one of two players traded for Mark Melancon.
He was known as Felipe Rivero then and wasn't always sure where his 101 mph fastball would go. Much has changed in two years. Vazquez, who is available to pitch for the NL in the All-Star Game Tuesday night, has since developed into one of the sport's best left-handed relievers, which makes this return to his former home that much sweeter.
"I think it wasn’t supposed to happen last year, because last year it was in Miami," Vazquez, who was snubbed from the All-Star Game last July, said Monday afternoon in the suite level of Nationals Park. "You’re going to the one in D.C. It feels pretty awesome to come back here. I was supposed to make it last year. It didn’t happen. I was sad about it. .. I’m happy now, though. It’s just a different year."
In more ways than one. Vazquez, who legally changed his name in April, signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Pirates in January, and he buckled under the expectations. The 27-year-old blew four of five save opportunities in an 11-day span from May 20 through the 31st.
His problems began much earlier, though. Vazquez allowed 11 hits in seven innings during spring training and his delivery became so contorted that Ray Searage made him pitch in a minor-league game on the back fields of Pirate City. He blew a four-run lead in the bottom of the ninth in the season opener in Detroit and didn't pitch for a week from April 27 to May 4 because he didn't feel well during the Pirates' three-game series at Nationals Park.
Vazquez blew a save against the Padres two weeks later and allowed a walk-off grand slam to the Cardinals' Yairo Muñoz in the bottom of the ninth in St. Louis on May 31. Afterwards, he revealed to reporters he had been tipping his pitches. His ERA had ballooned to 4.84 and he had allowed 12 hits in his previous 3 2/3 innings.
It was in stark contrast to one year ago when he was among the best relievers in baseball. Vazquez had a 0.76 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 12 walks in 47 1/3 innings during the first half last season; however, he was not selected for the All-Star game since he had only six saves.
Vazquez did not become the closer until June after Clint Hurdle removed Tony Watson from that role. Although Vazquez had struggled with the Nationals, his woes in May were particularly trying since he was the leader of a young bullpen — tasked with holding on to leads for an offense that was struggling at the time.
"I think it was more because I signed that deal and it was like, ‘I have to do my best, I have to do my best, I have to do my best,’" Vazquez said. "I was thinking so much about that I just forgot to have fun. Now, having fun and I’m not worrying about that anymore."
It began with a phone conversation. After leaving Busch Stadium May 31, he called his sister, Prescilla Vazquez, and the two spoke for three hours. Prescilla told her brother to stop worrying about the contract. That wasn't easy for Felipe, though. He began meditating in the offseason to cope with the stress, but to no avail.
He found an answer, though, and Searage hammered home that sentiment following that dramatic blown save in St. Louis. Vazquez began watching more film, arrived at the ballpark at 1 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game every day — home or road — and changed the setup to his delivery to prevent himself from tipping his fastball.
"I just decided enough was enough," Vazquez said. "I went out and tried to help the team, help myself on that run. I wanted to be the best. I wanted to show I’m not just a regular pitcher. I’m not saying I’m the best, but I know I can be."
He's now holding his glove on the outside of his left hip, and the bite to his breaking ball has returned. Also, Vazquez started throwing his slider and curveball again — two pitches that were vital to him in the past. The results have been remarkable. Vazquez has regained his velocity — his fastball is reaching 101 mph regularly — and he finished the first half with 15 consecutive scoreless appearances.
That includes only two earned runs over 19 innings with 34 strikeouts in that span. He's converted 13 consecutive saves, including six during the Pirates' storybook final week to the first half, and he hasn't walked a batter in 14 of his last 15 appearances. His 23 saves rank fifth in the NL and his 44 over the past two seasons are the most by a lefty in franchise history.
Naturally, Searage was beaming when asked about the first time he watched film on Vazquez following the trade in 2016. "Oh, man, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is going to be fun,’" Searage told DKPittsburghSports.com this past weekend at PNC Park. "I was kind of surprised Washington did let him go, but one organization’s loss is another one’s gain. I’m really glad we got him. Mark has had some issues, and with him, he’s got a lot ahead of him."
Vazquez was acquired by the Nationals from the Rays in in 2014 and was converted to a reliever, making his big league debut the following season. He had a 0.95 WHIP in 48 1/3 innings in 2015 and that success carried over to 2016, when he held opponents to a batting average of .178 and .182 in April and May, respectively.
But he allowed 13 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings from June 4 to 18. Vazquez responded by allowing only two earned runs over his final 19 1/3 innings, but he was still dealt at the deadline. Nationals Park will serve as his home for the next two days — he's available to pitch in the game — but he's moved on.
He's a far different pitcher than the one who last wore a Nationals uniform here July 22, 2016.
"My new uniform is yellow and now I have red," Vazquez joked. "It brings back memories."
