Javier Valentín

Infobox MLB player
name = Javier Valentín


width =
caption =
team = Cincinnati Reds
number = 17
position = Catcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1975|9|19
birthplace = city-state|Manatí|Puerto Rico
bats = Switch
throws = Right
debutdate = September 13
debutyear = 1997
debutteam = Minnesota Twins
statyear = September 25,2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .251
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 44
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 208
teams =
*Minnesota Twins (by|1997-by|1999, by|2002)
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2003)
*Cincinnati Reds (by|2004-present)

José Javier Valentín (born September 19, 1975 in Manatí, Puerto Rico) is a catcher in Major League Baseball. [http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=123609 The Official Site of The Cincinnati Reds: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights ] ] He currently plays for the Cincinnati Reds (by|2004-present) after playing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2003) and playing in four brief stints for the Minnesota Twins from by|1997-by|2002. He is the younger brother of former Major League Baseball second baseman José Valentín [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stats/historical/player_stats.jsp?statType=3&teamPosCode=all&timeFrame=3&c_id=mlb&sitSplit=&venueID=&Submit=Submit&timeSubFrame2=1&baseballScope=mlb&timeSubFrame=1&&sortByStat=E The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Stats: Historical Player Stats ] ] . In by|2005, he hit .281 with a career-high 14 home runs as a backup catcher for the Reds. He is a switch-hitter. Valentín has played briefly at first base and even more infrequently at third base in his time with Cincinnati.

Baseball career

Valentín was drafted on June 3, by|1993 by the Minnesota Twins in the third 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 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 has remained with the Reds for the last four seasons mainly as a back-up catcher and a specialized pinch hitter.

References

External links