Virgil Vasquez - 2017-18 Melbourne Aces

Despite acting more as the pitching coach for the Melbourne Aces, former MLB player and American import Vasquez still managed to start a single game for the Melbourne Aces during the 2017-18 ABL season, marking his sixth season playing in the ABL

2017-18 Melbourne Aces Vigil Vasquez card front - ©2018 Adam East

Virgil Vasquez - 2016-17 Melbourne Aces

Former MLB, Perth Heat, Adelaide Bite and Melbourne Aces player Vasquez returned to the Aces for his second ABL season with them and his fifth ABL season in total during 2016-17.

2016-17 Melbourne Aces Virgil Vasquez card front - ©2017 Adam East

Virgil Vasquez - 2015-16 Melbourne Aces

Former MLB player Vasquez is getting the grand tour of Australia, both coaching and playing with the Melbourne Aces for the 2015-16 ABL season. This is his fourth season in the ABL, his first two were with Perth, whilst his third was last season with Adelaide.

Vasquez retired from affiliated baseball in late 2014 and then had short stints in the Mexican Winter League, and pitched a single game for Adelaide in the 2014-15 ABL Championship series. Although he's been used in relief by the Aces this season, he is listed as their pitching coach, so I'm presuming that he may originally have been brought to the Aces in the coaching role, and the playing role has emerged through necessity.

I like it when the players react to the camera, so I chose this shot of Vasquez responding to the camera in the dugout.

2015-16 Melbourne Aces Virgil Vasquez card front - ©2016 Adam East

Virgil Vasquez - 2012-13 Perth Heat

The Heat were fortunate to secure American import and former MLB player Vasquez back for the 2012-13 ABL season. He signed with the Minnesota Twins as a free agent on the 11th Dec 2012 - this photo is actually of his final ABL game before he was recalled back to the US by the Twins.

This card also represents the final card design to be unveiled from my 2012-13 series of ABL cards - the card design for Perth Heat players.

2012-13 Perth Heat Virgil Vasquez card front - © 2013 Adam East

Virgil Vasquez - 2011-12 Perth Heat

American pitcher Virgil Vasquez was a coup signing for Perth during the middle of the 2011-12 season. Vasquez is a former Major League player, having pitched 19 games between Detroit and Pittsburgh between 2007-2009. Tragedy struck him in 2010 when both his wrists were broken in a motor vehicle accident. Since then, he has been trying to re-establish himself in baseball. Being named the MVP of the 2012 ABL Championship Series certainly has done no harm to his quest. In 2012 he has returned to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the independent Atlantic League.

2011-12 Perth Heat Virgil Vasquez card front - © 2012 Adam East