SERGIO VALENZUELA

9/5/84; NDFA '01 (Atlanta); Mexico
R/R; 6-0, 175

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	HR	BB	K	BB/9	K/9	WHIP	OAVG	ERA
2004 R (Atl)	1-2-0	5	3	21.0	15	3	3	16	1.3	6.9	0.86	.188	3.00
2005 R (Atl)	1-4-0	8	7	35.0	35	1	4	16	1.0	4.1	1.11	.259	3.60
2006 R+ (Atl)	3-4-0	13	11	50.2	57	5	18	29	3.2	5.2	1.48	.286	6.04
2007 A+ (Atl)	0-0-0	18	2	35.1	47	3	18	19	4.6	4.8	1.84	.318	6.88
2007 A (Atl)	1-3-0	14	3	36.2	55	5	19	19	4.7	4.7	2.02	.350	7.12
2008 MEXICO	8-4-0	18	18	92.0	100	4	53	32	5.2	3.1	1.66	.288	4.89
2009 MEXICO	3-1-0	17	9	63.2	63	5	25	57	3.5	8.1	1.38	.257	3.11

Valenzuela hasn't had much success getting hitters out and, by 2009, his BB and K numbers had deteriorated to the point of being nightmarish.  Just the same, the Pirates must have seen something they liked and, you guessed it, it's above-average velocity.  They're not the first.  The Reds actually selected Valenzuela from the Braves in the December 2007 Rule 5 draft, prompting this comment from Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus:  "This pick is a joke right?"  The Reds returned Valenzuela to the Braves.  He was so bad that they never used him in an exhibition game.  He couldn't even get through an inning in an intrasquad scrimmage.  The Braves were so relieved to get him back that they promptly sent him to Monclova of the Mexican League for future considerations.  The Pirates signed him for 2009.  He was in spring training in March, but the Pirates evidently loaned/assigned him to the Mexican League.  He made significant improvements, so it could be the Pirates did something to help him while he was in camp.  I don't know whether he'll appear in the organization in 2010. 

Return to Right-Handed Pitchers