Javier Valentín
Encyclopedia
José Javier Valentín Rosario (born September 19, 1975 in Manatí, Puerto Rico
) is a catcher
in Major League Baseball
who is currently a free agent. From -, he played for the Cincinnati Reds
after playing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
and playing in four brief stints for the Minnesota Twins
from -. He is the younger brother of former Major League Baseball
second baseman
José Valentín
. In , he hit
.281 with a career-high 14 home run
s as a backup catcher for the Reds. He is a switch-hitter. Valentín played briefly at first base and even more infrequently at third base
in his time with Cincinnati.
in the third round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft
. He made his major league debut on September 13, 1997, and ended up playing three seasons for the Twins.
On November 15, 2002, the Twins traded him with Matt Kinney
to the Milwaukee Brewers
for Minor League
prospects Gerry Oakes and Matt Yeatman. A few months later, the Brewers sent him to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Jason Conti
.
After becoming a free agent
, Valentín signed with the Cincinnati Reds on January 8, 2004. He remained with the Reds for the five seasons mainly as a back-up catcher and a specialized pinch hitter
. He signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals on February 3, , to battle with Wil Nieves
to be Washington's backup catcher. However, on March 28, he was reassigned to minor league camp, declined his assignment, and opted to become a free agent.
On May 14, Valentin signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets
and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo
. He was released on June 22, 2009.
Manatí, Puerto Rico
Manatí is a municipality of Puerto Rico in the northern coast, north of Morovis and Ciales; east of Florida and Barceloneta; and west of Vega Baja. Manatí is spread over 8 wards and Manatí Pueblo...
) is a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in 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...
who is currently a free agent. From -, he played for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
after playing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
and playing in four brief stints for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from -. He is the younger brother of former 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...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
José Valentín
José Valentín
José Antonio Valentín is a former Major League Baseball infielder, who played with the Milwaukee Brewers , Chicago White Sox , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets .-Early years:...
. In , he hit
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 :...
.281 with a career-high 14 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s as a backup catcher for the Reds. He is a switch-hitter. Valentín played briefly at first base and even more infrequently at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
in his time with Cincinnati.
Baseball career
Valentín was drafted on June 3, , by the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the third round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft
1993 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*Scott Rolen was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1993 amateur draft....
. He made his major league debut on September 13, 1997, and ended up playing three seasons for the Twins.
On November 15, 2002, the Twins traded him with Matt Kinney
Matt Kinney
Matthew John Kinney is an American professional baseball pitcher in the San Francisco Giants organization. He spent with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League. Kinney is a graduate of Bangor High School....
to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Minor League
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
prospects Gerry Oakes and Matt Yeatman. A few months later, the Brewers sent him to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Jason Conti
Jason Conti
Stanley Jason Conti is a former outfielder in Major League baseball. He spent five years in the major leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers....
.
After becoming a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, Valentín signed with the Cincinnati Reds on January 8, 2004. He remained with the Reds for the five seasons mainly as a back-up catcher and a specialized pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. He signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals on February 3, , to battle with Wil Nieves
Wil Nieves
Wilbert Nieves is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher of Major League Baseball and is currently a free agent.-Career:...
to be Washington's backup catcher. However, on March 28, he was reassigned to minor league camp, declined his assignment, and opted to become a free agent.
On May 14, Valentin signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets
New 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...
and was assigned 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...
. He was released on June 22, 2009.