Merkin Valdéz
Encyclopedia
Merkin R. Valdéz Mola is a Dominican
professional baseball
pitcher
who is a free agent. Valdez graduated from Escuela Rural Palenque High School in his native Dominican Republic.
as an amateur free agent
in 1999. He played with the Braves Dominican League team
in 2000 and 2001 and the Gulf Coast Braves in 2002.
to the San Francisco Giants
for Russ Ortiz
on December 17, 2002. He was named San Francisco's Minor League Player of the Year and selected as a Low A All-Star in 2003 when he went 9-5 with a 2.25 ERA for the Hagerstown Suns
in the South Atlantic League
. In 2004, Valdez pitched for Single-A San Jose Giants
, Double-A Norwich Navigators, Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
, and made his Major League debut on August 1, 2004 against the St. Louis Cardinals
. He appeared in 2 games for the Giants, working 1.2 innings for a 27.00 ERA. Valdez was selected to the World squad for the All-Star Futures Game
for 3 consecutive years (2003–05), held in conjunction with MLB All-Star festivities.
He spent all of 2005 in Norwich, and all of 2006 in Fresno
, until injuring his arm. He missed the entire 2007 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery
on September 27, 2006.
Valdez returned to the Giants to appear in 17 games in 2007 and 48 games in 2009.
He was designated for assignment
on January 14, 2010 by the Giants to make room on the 40 man roster for Aubrey Huff
.
for cash considerations. He appeared in two games with the Blue Jays during the season, spending most of the season with the Las Vegas 51s
.
. The Dodgers assigned him to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
. He opted out of his contract on July 18 and became a free agent. He had appeared in 38 games with the Isotopes with a 4-2 record, 3.58 ERA and 5 saves.
on July 24, 2011. He was assigned to the Triple-A Round Rock Express
. He became a free agent on November 4.
Valdez is single and has a son, Merkin Hanier, born August 11, 2006.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
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...
who is a free agent. Valdez graduated from Escuela Rural Palenque High School in his native Dominican Republic.
Atlanta Braves
Valdez was signed by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
as an amateur 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....
in 1999. He played with the Braves Dominican League team
Dominican Summer Braves
The Dominican Summer Braves is a minor league baseball team in the Dominican Summer League. The team plays in the San Pedro de Macorís division and is affiliated with the Atlanta Braves.-External links:*...
in 2000 and 2001 and the Gulf Coast Braves in 2002.
San Francisco Giants
He was traded by the Braves with Damian MossDamian Moss
Damian Joseph Moss is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.-Career:After making his major league debut on April 26, , with the Atlanta Braves, Moss would also spend the season in Atlanta, where he placed fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year award...
to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Russ Ortiz
Russ Ortiz
Russell Reid Ortiz is a retired Major League baseball pitcher. Ortiz played for the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers...
on December 17, 2002. He was named San Francisco's Minor League Player of the Year and selected as a Low A All-Star in 2003 when he went 9-5 with a 2.25 ERA for the Hagerstown Suns
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
. In 2004, Valdez pitched for Single-A San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
, Double-A Norwich Navigators, Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
, and made his Major League debut on August 1, 2004 against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. 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...
. He appeared in 2 games for the Giants, working 1.2 innings for a 27.00 ERA. Valdez was selected to the World squad for the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
for 3 consecutive years (2003–05), held in conjunction with MLB All-Star festivities.
He spent all of 2005 in Norwich, and all of 2006 in Fresno
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
, until injuring his arm. He missed the entire 2007 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
on September 27, 2006.
Valdez returned to the Giants to appear in 17 games in 2007 and 48 games in 2009.
He was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
on January 14, 2010 by the Giants to make room on the 40 man roster for Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Lewis Huff III is a Major League Baseball first baseman with the San Francisco Giants. He debuted in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. He is the starting first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who won the...
.
Toronto Blue Jays
On January 20, 2010, he was traded to the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
for cash considerations. He appeared in two games with the Blue Jays during the season, spending most of the season with the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On February 2, 2011 he was signed to a minor league contract by the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. The Dodgers assigned him to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He opted out of his contract on July 18 and became a free agent. He had appeared in 38 games with the Isotopes with a 4-2 record, 3.58 ERA and 5 saves.
Texas Rangers
Valdez signed a minor league contract with the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
on July 24, 2011. He was assigned to the Triple-A Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
. He became a free agent on November 4.
Personal life
When Valdez was first traded to the Giants, he went by the name Manny Mateo. While in his first year with the organization, however, his real name and real age (nine months older than he previously claimed) were revealed.Valdez is single and has a son, Merkin Hanier, born August 11, 2006.