The 25-year-old Valdez went 6-10 with a 5.90 ERA (97.2ip/64er) in 20 games (18 starts) this year with Triple-A Reno. Valdez
also went 1-2 in nine games (two starts) with the Diamondbacks.
Valdez was signed by the Diamondbacks as a non-drafted free agent on May 2, 2005. He entered the 2009 season ranked
as the seventh-best prospect and as having the “Best Curveball” and “Best Changeup” in the Diamondbacks minor league
system according to Baseball America.
Valdez also earned the organization’s Minor League Pitcher-of-the-Year honors in 2008 after finishing tied for the most wins
(13) among Arizona minor leaguers and ranking second among Diamondbacks farmhands in ERA (3.14) and strikeouts
(140).