Merkin Valdéz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Merkin Valdéz**

San Francisco Giants — No. 47
Relief pitcher
Born: November 10, 1981 (1981-11-10) (age 26) San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
August 1, 2004 for the San Francisco Giants
Selected MLB statistics (through May 3, 2008)
Wins–Losses	1–0
Innings pitched	17
ERA	3.71
Strikeouts	15
Teams
San Francisco Giants (2004, 2008–present)

Merkin R. Valdéz (born November 10, 1981 in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic) is a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He currently plays for the San Francisco Giants. Valdez graduated from Escuela Rural Palenque High School in his native Dominican Republic. He was signed by the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent in 1999. He was traded by the Braves with Damian Moss to the Giants for Russ Ortiz on December 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-A San Jose Giants, Double-A Norwich Navigators, Triple-A Fresno 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 undergoing Tommy John surgery on September 27, 2006.

Valdez has a mid-90s fastball that can be sustained throughout a start. He also boasts a decent changeup and rarely allows home runs. He tries to add a curveball and slider 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 a bullpen role. This did not prevent him from becoming injured.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.