- Merkin Valdéz
Infobox MLB player
width = 150
name=Merkin Valdéz
position=Relief pitcher
team=San Francisco Giants
number=47
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|11|10
birthplace=city-state|San Cristóbal|Dominican Republic
debutdate=August 1
debutyear=2004
debutteam=San Francisco Giants
statyear=May 3, 2008
stat1label=Wins–Losses
stat1value=1–0
stat2label=Innings pitched
stat2value=17
stat3label=ERA
stat3value=3.71
stat4label=Strikeout s
stat4value=15
teams=
*San Francisco Giants (by|2004, by|2008–present)Merkin R. Valdéz (born
November 10 ,1981 in city-state|San Cristóbal|Dominican Republic) is apitcher inMajor League Baseball . He currently plays for theSan Francisco Giants . Valdez graduated from Escuela Rural Palenque High School in his native Dominican Republic. He was signed by theAtlanta Braves as an amateurfree agent in 1999. He was traded by the Braves withDamian Moss to the Giants forRuss Ortiz onDecember 17 ,2002 . He is considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in the Giants' farm system.Valdez made his professional debut in 2003, pitching for the Single-A
Hagerstown Suns and was named San Francisco's 2003 USA Today Organizational Player of Year. In 2004, Valdez pitched for Single-ASan Jose Giants , Double-ANorwich Navigators , Triple-AFresno Grizzlies , and briefly appeared in the major leagues. Valdez spent all of 2005 in Norwich, and all of 2006 in Fresno, until injuring his arm. Valdez missed the entire 2007 season after undergoingTommy John surgery onSeptember 27 ,2006 .Valdez has a mid-90s
fastball that can be sustained throughout a start. He also boasts a decentchangeup and rarely allowshome run s. He tries to add acurveball andslider into the mix, but they're below average. His mechanics raised a red flag for possible injuries, and as a result, he was converted to abullpen role. This did not prevent him from becoming injured.Honors
Valdez was selected to World squad for
All-Star Futures Game for 3 consecutive years (2003-05), held in conjunction with MLB All-Star festivities.Personal
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 .External links
* [http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=429723 Merkin Valdez Official San Francisco Giants Profile]
* [http://thebaseballcube.com/players/V/Merkin-Valdez.shtml The Baseball Cube - Merkin Valdez]
*espn mlb|id=7394|name=Merkin ValdezPersondata
NAME= Valdéz, Merkin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Valdéz, Merkin R.
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Dominican baseball pitcher
DATE OF BIRTH=1981-11-10
PLACE OF BIRTH=city-state|San Cristóbal|Dominican Republic
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=
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