VELAZQUEZ

BOSTON — As he sat in front of his locker packing for the trip to Tampa, Gil Velazquez seemed as happy as anyone in the Red Sox’ clubhouse.

After 11 years in the minor leagues, Velazquez is relishing his first chance to soak up life in the bigs. For him, the money really does mean something.

“I was home at the end of the season for two weeks,” he pointed out. “I would never have thought that I’d be in this situation. I’ve been very fortunate. I’m happy to be here and taking it one day at a time.”

Velazquez was activated for the final game of the Angels series when Mike Lowell was disabled. He will not know until today whether he will be active for the Rays series. But he has assured himself of a playoff share.

“I’ve been in the minors for 11 years. It’s been rough not making a lot of money,” he said. “Now being here, getting called up. It’s been a blessing. It’s going to make a change in my life.

“Every year at the end of the season I go home and work,” said Velazquez, who grew up in Los Angeles and now lives in Las Vegas. “I’ve done a lot of things. I’ve been in shipping. I’ve done construction. I’ve umpired (Little League games). I’ve done all kinds of stuff. I’ve never been picky with jobs. Whatever opens up, I jump on it.”

He already has one special memory: getting his first hit against the Yankees and doing it with his mother and brothers in the stands.

“It was awesome, a day I’ll never forget,” he said.

pkenyon@projo.com