| José Valverde | |
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Valverde pitching for the Tigers at Dodger Stadium, June 2011 |
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| Detroit Tigers – No. 46 | |
| Closing pitcher | |
| Born: March 24, 1978 San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| June 1, 2003 for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| Career statistics (through 2011) |
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| Win–loss record | 23–27 |
| Earned run average | 3.02 |
| Strikeouts | 602 |
| Saves | 242 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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José Rafael Valverde (born March 24, 1978) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande (Spanish for Big Potato).[1] He was born in in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.
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Valverde made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 to help out the injury plagued Arizona Diamondbacks, joining Brandon Webb and Andrew Good after injuries to Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling left the team out of contention.
Although he had been the Diamondbacks closer since replacing Brian Bruney in 2005, trouble on the mound in the month of June 2006 forced management to give the role to Jorge Julio. Valverde regained the role after spending some time with the Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders. He returned to the closer role in early September (as Julio became too inconsistent) and pitched well in his return. Valverde finished the 2006 season with a record of two wins, three losses, an ERA of 5.84 and 18 saves.
On June 23, 2007, Valverde passed Matt Mantei as the Diamondbacks all-time saves leader, with his 75th, a perfect ninth against the Baltimore Orioles. Valverde made the 2007 MLB All-Star Game as a closer for Arizona. Until he was traded during the 2007 offseason, Valverde was the Diamondbacks closer, and led all of Major League Baseball in saves (47) during the 2007 regular season.
On September 25, 2007, Valverde was named as one of 10 finalist for the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award."
On December 14, 2007, Valverde was traded to the Houston Astros for pitchers Chad Qualls, Juan Gutiérrez and IF/OF Chris Burke.
He finished his first year in Houston with 44 saves in 51 chances, a 6–4 record, 83 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.38. He led the NL in saves for the second straight year and was second in the majors in saves for 2008. When Valverde entered into the game, a brief video set to Percy Rodrigues's opening narration of the trailer from Jaws played on the Minute Maid Park screen, leading into a montage of his best moments as an Astro backed by the Saliva song "Ladies and Gentlemen."
Following the 2009 season, Valverde filed for free agency, rejecting the Astros' offer of salary arbitration.[2]
On January 19, 2010, Valverde signed a two-year, $14 million contract, with a third year team option for $9 million with the Detroit Tigers.[3] Through the first half of the season he had an ERA of 0.94 and had scoreless streak of 24 innings, which is longest in Tigers history passing Todd Jones who previously held the record at 22 innings in 2000.[4]
Valverde represented the Tigers at the 2010 All-Star Game along with Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera. Following the All-Star break, he suffered some nagging injuries, finishing the year with 26 saves and a 3.00 ERA.
On May 8, 2011, Valverde recorded his 200th career save. Valverde was elected to his third All-Star Game, and American League manager Ron Washington selected Valverde to serve as his closer.[5]
On September 11, 2011, Valverde recorded his 43rd save of the season, passing Todd Jones as the Tigers' single-season saves leader.[6] His 45th save of the season on September 16 secured the AL Central Division title for the Tigers. On the final day of the regular season he recorded his 49th straight save, completing his perfect regular season. He won the 2011 MLB Delivery Man of the Year Award as the most outstanding relief pitcher of the regular season.[7] In 2011, he led AL pitchers in saves, games (75), and games finished (70).[8] Through 2011, he was sixth among all active pitchers in career saves (242).[8]
He recorded 2 saves in the 2011 ALDS, the second of which sent the Tigers to the 2011 ALCS. He recorded one save in the Tigers' two 2011 ALCS wins.
Valverde finished fifth in the 2011 AL Cy Young Award voting, which was won by teammate Justin Verlander.[9]
Valverde brings a streak of 51 consecutive save opportunities converted into the 2012 season.[10]
On October 28, 2011 the Tigers picked up the club option on Valverde's contract. [11]
Valverde throws both two and four-seam fastballs, a splitter, and a slider.[12] His four-seam fastball can be clocked anywhere between 97 to 100 MPH.[13] Valverde's two-seam fastball usually is clocked around the mid 90s. His splitter and slider are usually clocked in the high 80s and low 90s. Valverde is well known for using a high percentage of a given kind of fastball at a time, at times throwing four-seamers exclusively in one outing, then switching to splitters almost exclusively the next game. He makes up for having only above average control with an overwhelming combination of speed, movement and aggressiveness in attacking the strike zone.
Valverde is also known for his energetic, highly emotional style on the mound. He frequently celebrates outs and saves very demonstratively. Some have questioned the sportsmanship of his behavior, including former teammate Miguel Montero of the Arizona Diamondbacks who has called him "unprofessional".[14][15]
| Preceded by Rafael Soriano |
American League Saves Champion 2011 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Trevor Hoffman |
National League Saves Champion 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Heath Bell |
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