José Valentín

Infobox MLB player


width=200
name=José Valentín
position=Second baseman
team=Free Agent
number=--
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1969|10|12
debutdate=September 17
debutyear=1992
debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
statyear=2007
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.243
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=249
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=816
teams=
*Milwaukee Brewers (by|1992-by|1999)
*Chicago White Sox (by|2000-by|2004)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2005)
*New York Mets (by|2006-by|2007)

José Antonio Valentín (born on October 12, 1969 in Manatí, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball second baseman, who is currently a free agent. Previously, he played with the Milwaukee Brewers (by|1992–by|1999), Chicago White Sox (by|2000–by|2004), Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2005), and New York Mets (by|2006–by|2007).

Baseball career

Early years

Valentín was signed on October 12, by|1986, by the San Diego Padres as an amateur free agent. However, he was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers on March 26, 1992 with Ricky Bones and Matt Mieske in exchange for Gary Sheffield and Minor League prospect Geoff Kellogg. He made his Major League debut with the Brewers in September 17, 1992. On January 12, 2000, and after eight seasons with the Brewers, he was traded with Cal Eldred to the Chicago White Sox in exchange of Jaime Navarro and John Snyder. He played five seasons with the White Sox before becoming a free agent in October 29, 2004.

Decline and Injuries

As Valentín got older, however, his range in the field lessened with his foot speed. Therefore he shifted from a strict shortstop to a player who can handle duties at third base, second base, shortstop and left field. On December 21, 2004, he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, during spring training, he went down with torn ligaments in his left knee, and ended up putting only a .170 batting average in 56 games that season after he returned, serving as a third baseman, left fielder and lefty pinch-hitter. On October 27 of the same year, the Dodgers granted him free agency.

Resurgence with the Mets

On December 12, 2005, Valentín signed with the New York Mets hoping to make the team as a utility player off the bench, but rebounded from the previous season to have one of the best seasons of his career. He emerged as one of the most solid players on the line-up, becoming the Mets regular second baseman after they traded away Kazuo Matsui. His veteran leadership and consistent hitting played a big part in helping the Mets to the 2006 National League Eastern Division Title. Valentín capped off his great regular season by hitting two home runs against the Florida Marlins on September 18, 2006, in the division-clinching game.

On November 14, 2006, Valentin re-signed with the Mets for one year, with an option for by|2008. Also, with the signing of Moisés Alou on November 20, 2006, Valentin agreed to give up his number 18 so that Alou could wear it, while he chose to wear the number 22 for the 2007 season. However, on July 20, 2007, he broke his tibia on his right leg when he fouled a ball off of it and ended up missing the rest of the season. He only played 51 games and ended up with a .241 batting average for the season. On January 18, 2008, he re-signed with the Mets on a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training. On June 21, while with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, Valentin told the Mets his season was over due to physical and mental wear and tear. The Mets released him shortly thereafter.

Career

Valentín had success as one of the few shortstops with good home run power, averaging 25 homers and 80 RBI over a 162 game season for his career. Although he only has a .243 lifetime batting average, he has established a .332 lifetime on-base percentage, evidencing his propensity to walk.

Valentín is the older brother of Cincinnati Reds catcher Javier Valentín. Valentín is also the career leader in errors among active players with 273, although he has 800 fewer errors than the Major League record [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]

ee also

* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* Hitting for the cycle
* Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game

External links

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