Raúl Valdés
Encyclopedia
Raúl Valdés is a Cuba
n professional baseball
pitcher
for the Philadelphia Phillies
of Major League Baseball
.
team. He signed with the Chicago Cubs
as a non-drafted free agent in 2004, and was assigned to the Cubs farm team of the Dominican Summer League
. He posted a 7–2 record with a 0.51 earned run average
in 16 games for the Dominican Cubs, holding the opponents to a .127 batting average
. He also saw action as an outfielder
, batting .241 with 12 doubles
and 26 runs batted in in 50 games, and was selected for the DSL Post-Season All-Star.
Valdés opened 2005 with Double-A West Tenn
, but was promoted rapidly to Triple-A Iowa
on May 9. He went 2–0 in five starts
, struck out
18 batters and issued just three walks
over 23 innings of work for West Tenn. While in Iowa, he was 6–7 with a save
in 25 appearances (17 starts), working six or more innings in six of his starts, ending 5–0 with a 2.15 ERA in those outings.
In 2006, Valdés dropped to 1–3 with a 7.59 ERA in 32 innings for Iowa before being released.
and 7–3 with a 2.81 ERA in 17 games, including 12 starts, for the New Jersey Jackals
.
after the end of the season. Valdés started 2007 with High-A St. Lucie
and later was promoted to Double-A Binghamton
. He combined for a 0–2 record with a 4.17 ERA and one save in 23 games (one start), before being released.
Since 2008, Valdés has pitched winter baseball for the Gigantes del Cibao
of the Dominican League and Navegantes del Magallanes
of the Venezuelan League
. He represented the Dominican team in the 2010 Caribbean Series
, in which he led all pitchers in wins (two) and strikeouts (13) and was selected to the All-Star Team.
Valdés was invited to spring training with the Mets in 2010. He was sent to Triple-A Buffalo
to start the season, but was quickly promoted to the major leagues.
On May 11, 2010, Valdés got his first major league victory in an 8–6 win over the Nationals.
On July 6, 2010, Valdés was called back as the Mets placed Fernando Tatís
on the 15-day disabled list.
On August 13, 2010, Valdés was optioned to AAA along with Ryota Igarashi
to make room for Pat Misch
and Francisco Rodriguez.
On November 5, 2010, Valdés was sent down to the minors to Triple-A Buffalo
and became a free-agent after refusing the minor league assignment.
. Valdés made seven appearances for St. Louis, pitching in 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits. He was designated for assignment on August 12, 2011.
. On August 18, he was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Valdes declared for free agency on October 11.
.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Chicago Cubs
In 2003, Valdés defected from Cuba, where he was a member of the Cuban NationalCuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
team. He signed with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
as a non-drafted free agent in 2004, and was assigned to the Cubs farm team of the Dominican Summer League
Dominican Summer League
The Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. The 2011 72-game season begins May 28 and ends August 20...
. He posted a 7–2 record with a 0.51 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 16 games for the Dominican Cubs, holding the opponents to a .127 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. He also saw action as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, batting .241 with 12 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 26 runs batted in in 50 games, and was selected for the DSL Post-Season All-Star.
Valdés opened 2005 with Double-A West Tenn
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
, but was promoted rapidly to Triple-A Iowa
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
on May 9. He went 2–0 in five starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
18 batters and issued just three walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
over 23 innings of work for West Tenn. While in Iowa, he was 6–7 with a save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
in 25 appearances (17 starts), working six or more innings in six of his starts, ending 5–0 with a 2.15 ERA in those outings.
In 2006, Valdés dropped to 1–3 with a 7.59 ERA in 32 innings for Iowa before being released.
Independent leagues
Valdés joined the independent Can-Am League, going 2–1 with a 5.09 ERA in four games for the Nashua PrideNashua Pride
The Nashua Pride were a professional baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire, in the United States, not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They played home games at Holman Stadium from 1998 through 2008, when they were sold and renamed the American Defenders of New Hampshire. In 2010 that...
and 7–3 with a 2.81 ERA in 17 games, including 12 starts, for the New Jersey Jackals
New Jersey Jackals
The New Jersey Jackals are a professional baseball team based in Little Falls, New Jersey, in the United States. The Jackals are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
.
New York Mets
He signed a minor league contract with the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
after the end of the season. Valdés started 2007 with High-A St. Lucie
St. Lucie Mets
The St. Lucie Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club.The team plays at Digital Domain Park...
and later was promoted to Double-A Binghamton
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
. He combined for a 0–2 record with a 4.17 ERA and one save in 23 games (one start), before being released.
Since 2008, Valdés has pitched winter baseball for the Gigantes del Cibao
Gigantes del Cibao
The Gigantes del Cibao are a baseball team that plays in the Dominican Winter League. The Gigantes have produced a number of successful major league ballplayers, including Albert Pujols and José Reyes....
of the Dominican League and Navegantes del Magallanes
Navegantes del Magallanes
The Navegantes del Magallanes are a baseball team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Based in Valencia, the Navegantes have won ten LVBP championships and two Caribbean World Series.-Pitchers:...
of the Venezuelan League
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is the highest level baseball league in Venezuela.-Brief history:Baseball exploded in Venezuela in 1941, following the world championship in Havana....
. He represented the Dominican team in the 2010 Caribbean Series
2010 Caribbean Series
The LII edition of the Caribbean Series was played in . It was held from February 2 through February 7 with the champions teams from Dominican Republic , Mexico , Puerto Rico and Venezuela...
, in which he led all pitchers in wins (two) and strikeouts (13) and was selected to the All-Star Team.
Valdés was invited to spring training with the Mets in 2010. He was sent to Triple-A Buffalo
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
to start the season, but was quickly promoted to the major leagues.
On May 11, 2010, Valdés got his first major league victory in an 8–6 win over the Nationals.
On July 6, 2010, Valdés was called back as the Mets placed Fernando Tatís
Fernando Tatis
Fernando Tatís, Jr. is a Major League Baseball utility player, who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Texas Rangers , St. Louis Cardinals , Montreal Expos , Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets...
on the 15-day disabled list.
On August 13, 2010, Valdés was optioned to AAA along with Ryota Igarashi
Ryota Igarashi
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously pitched for the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball and the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.-Japanese career:...
to make room for Pat Misch
Pat Misch
Patrick "Pat" Theodore Joseph Misch is an American Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.-Early life:Misch was born in Northbrook, Illinois...
and Francisco Rodriguez.
On November 5, 2010, Valdés was sent down to the minors to Triple-A Buffalo
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
and became a free-agent after refusing the minor league assignment.
St. Louis Cardinals
Valdés signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Valdés made seven appearances for St. Louis, pitching in 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits. He was designated for assignment on August 12, 2011.
New York Yankees
On August 16, Valdés was claimed off waivers by the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. On August 18, he was assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Valdes declared for free agency on October 11.
Philadelphia Phillies
On November 10, 2011, Valdez signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training with the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.