Rafael Valdez
Encyclopedia
Rafael Emilio Valdez Díaz (born December 17, 1967 in Nizao
, Dominican Republic
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher. He played for the San Diego Padres
in .
Valdez began his professional career as a shortstop
, playing two seasons at that position with the Charleston Rainbows in 1986-87. He converted to pitching in . In , Valdez pitched a perfect game
for the Riverside Red Wave.
After his major league career, Valdez continued to pitch in minor league baseball
until , when he played for the Allentown Ambassadors
of the Northeast League.
Nizao
-General information:Nizao is a city in the Dominican Republic and capital of the Nizao Municipality. It is the second large municipality of the Peravia Province and is located in southeastern corner of this province, in the angle formed by the estuary of the Nizao River and the Caribbean Sea...
, Dominican Republic
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...
) is a 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...
pitcher. He played for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in .
Valdez began his professional career as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, playing two seasons at that position with the Charleston Rainbows in 1986-87. He converted to pitching in . In , Valdez pitched a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
for the Riverside Red Wave.
After his major league career, Valdez continued to pitch in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
until , when he played for the Allentown Ambassadors
Allentown Ambassadors
The Allentown Ambassadors were an independent baseball team that competed in the Northeast League and the Northern League from 1997 until 2003. They played their home games at Allentown, Pennsylvania's Bicentennial Park.- History :...
of the Northeast League.