If you follow the Philly Pressbox (https://phillypressbox.wordpress.com) (@phillypressbox) you’re aware that we did a review and analysis of each Phillies player, Manager Charlie Manuel and the coaching staff leading up to Opening Day 2012.  Now that the season has reached the 50 game mark there have been four additional players that are on the roster that we will get to know. Yesterday we profiled Jake Diekman. Today we’ll get to know Raul Valdez. 

Raul Valdez –The 34-year-old Cuban born Valdez was signed as a free agent in the 2004 amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs. He bounced around the minor leagues from 2004 to 2010 before making his major league debut with the New York Mets on April 11, 2010. At the age of 32, Valdex had a nice rookie year with Mets. He pitched in 38 games, finished with a 3-3 record with a 4.91 ERA and a save. That rookie season wasn’t good enough to keep him with the Mets, he was released following the season and signed by the St. Louis Cardinals. Valdez pitched in just 7 games for the Cards before being released and picked up by the Yankees where he pitched in only 6 majoe league games. He was released by the Yankees following the season and signed by the Phillies. Valdez has pitched in 8 games thus far for the Phils, recording a 2-0 record with a 3.00 ERA. He has stuck out 11 batters in his 9 innings of work.

As a journeyman minor leaguer, Valdez has worked as both a starter and reliever. He has pitched in 133 games in his 6 years at the lower levels with the majority of his work coming at the AAA level. He’s won 28 games and lost 21 with a 4.59 career ERA.

Personal Analysis:It will be interesting to see if Valdez sticks with the Phillies. He has done a decent job thus far, however, he was called up from Lehigh Valley due to injuries in the bullpen. Our expectation is that he will be sent back down as soon as Michael Stutes is healthy and able to return. He could also be the first guy that returns to the big leagues if the injuries continue. At the least we would expect to see Raul again in September.

Tomorrow we will preview Mike Fontenot.

For those that haven’t followed our Phillies Profiles you can see them all in the archives file under “Phillies”.

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