Wilson Valdéz

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Wilson Valdez

position=Shortstop
team=Tokyo Yakult Swallows
number=45
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|5|20
debutdate=September 7
debutyear=2004
debutteam=Chicago White Sox
statyear=2007
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.211
stat2label=Runs batted in
stat2value=20
stat3label=Home runs
stat3value=1
teams=
*Chicago White Sox (by|2004)
*Seattle Mariners (by|2005)
*San Diego Padres (by|2005)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2007)
*Kia Tigers (by|2008)

Wilson Antonio Valdéz (born May 20, 1978 in Nizao, Peravia, Dominican Republic) is a shortstop currently playing for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the Nippon Professional Baseball.

Valdez was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Montreal Expos on February 4, by|1997. He played on the Expos Dominican League Teams from 1997-by|1999 and then on various Minor League "A" ball teams for the Expos through by|2001.

On March 29, by|2002, he was claimed off waivers by the Florida Marlins and sent to the Marlins "AA" team in Portland. He continued in the Marlins organization in by|2003, playing with their AA team in Carolina and their "AAA" team in Albuquerque.

On June 17, by|2004, while hitting .319 for Albuquerque, he was traded by the Marlins with cash to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for reliever Billy Koch. The White Sox promptly assigned him to their "AAA" afiliate in Charlotte where he hit .302 and earned his first major league call-up in September of 2004 to the White Sox. In limited action he hit .233 for the Sox.

After the season, he was waived by the White Sox and claimed by the Seattle Mariners. He started the by|2005 season as the starting shortstop for the Mariners. However, he hit an anemic .198 and was traded to the San Diego Padres on June 9, 2005. After a stint with the Padres "AAA" team in Portland, he was returned to the Major Leagues with the Padres, hitting .231 in August as a utility player.

After the 2005 season, he was released by the Padres and signed to a minor league contract by the Kansas City Royals who promptly traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers during spring training.

He spent the by|2006 season with the Dodgers "AAA" team, the Las Vegas 51s, where he hit .297 and stole 26 bases.

A spring training injury to the Dodgers starting shortstop Rafael Furcal in by|2007, created an opening day roster spot for Valdez and he got plenty of playing time early for the Dodgers; however, after a quick start he quickly cooled and was returned to the 51s. On January 3, by|2008, Valdez's contract was sold to the Kia Tigers.

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