Pat Valaika

Patrick Ryne Valaika (born September 9, 1992) is an American professional baseball infielder in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles.

Pat Valaika
Valaika at Coors Field in 2018
Los Angeles Dodgers
Infielder
Born: (1992-09-09) September 9, 1992
Valencia, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 6, 2016, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.221
Home runs30
Runs batted in92
Teams

Career

Amateur career

Valaika attended William S. Hart High School in Santa Clarita, California, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins. In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the ninth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2]

Minor Leagues

Valaika made his professional debut on July 8, 2013, playing shortstop for the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League going 1 for 4 with an RBI triple.[3] Valaika started the 2014 season with the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League batting .370 over 34 games before being promoted to the Modesto Nuts of the California League.[4] He spent two seasons in the Eastern League, 2015 with the New Britain Rock Cats and 2016 with the Hartford Yard Goats before being promoted to the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Pacific Coast League for the last month of the Minor League Baseball season.[4] During the 2016 season he earned Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star honors and was named a Colorado Rockies Organization All-Star, resulting in a September call-up for the Rockies. Valaika would see time with Isotopes during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons while also getting time in the Major Leagues.[4] During the 2019 season with Albuquerque he was named to the Mid-Season Pacific Coast League All-Star Game.[5]

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies promoted Valaika to the major leagues for the first time on September 6, 2016,[6] and made his Major League Baseball debut the same day pinch running for pinch hitter Tom Murphy in the bottom of the 8th inning during a game against the San Francisco Giants.[7] He made his first defensive appearance on September 8, 2016, replacing third baseman Nolan Arenado in the bottom of the sixth inning, a game where he also got his first plate appearance hitting a double in the bottom of the 8th inning.[8] His first start in the major leagues came against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 24, 2016.[9]

On Mother's Day, 2017, Valaika hit two home runs, and on Father's Day that same year, he hit a pinch hit home run.[10]

Baltimore Orioles

On October 30, 2019, Valaika was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[11] However, Valaika was designated for assignment by the Orioles on January 10, 2020, to make room for Richard Ureña on their 40-man roster.[12]

On January 16, 2020, Valaika was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.[13] Valaika was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on January 27, following the acquisition of Starling Marte.

On January 30, Valaika was again claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[14] He was outrighted to the Norfolk Tides on February 11. On July 17, 2020, Valaika was assigned to the Orioles Alternate Training Site and on July 23 the Orioles selected his contract. [15]

In 2020 for the Orioles, Valaika slashed .277/.315/.475 with 8 home runs and 16 RBI.[16]

After having 193 at-bats, hitting .192 with 4 home runs and 21 RBI's, on August 5, Valaika was designated for assignment by the Orioles.[17] On August 8, Valaika was sent outright to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. There, he played in 22 games, hitting .225 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI's. On September 14, the Orioles re-selected Valaika's contract.[18] Valaika was outrighted off of the 40-man roster on October 23 and granted free agency on October 25. [19]

Atlanta Braves

On March 19, 2022, Valaika signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[20] Valaika played in 114 games for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, hitting .242 with 10 home runs, 54 RBI, and two stolen bases.[4] He elected free agency following the season on November 10.

Seattle Mariners

On March 23, 2023, Valaika signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners organization.[21] In 38 games for the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, Valaika batted .240 with four home runs and 26 RBI.[4]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 4, 2023, Valaika was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.[22] He hit .225 in 25 games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.[4]

Personal life

Pat is one of four brothers to play professional baseball. Chris, played professionally from 2006 to 2015, including time in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, and Chicago Cubs.[23] Nick, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 and spent two years in their farm system with the Bristol Pirates and West Virginia Black Bears.[24] Matt, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and played one season with the Batavia Muckdogs before retiring due to injury.[25]

References
  1. "#19 Pat Valaika - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  2. McCue, Ian (June 7, 2013). "UCLA shortstop Valaika taken by Rox in Round 9". M.mlb.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  3. "MiLB Stats | Baseball Stats". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  4. "Pat Valaika College, Amateur and Minor League Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  5. "Pat Valaika Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  6. "Baseball: Pat Valaika to become sixth former Hart player in MLB this season". Los Angeles Times. September 5, 2016.
  7. "Giants 3, Rockies 2 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  8. "Rockies 1, Padres 14 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday". MLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  9. "Rockies 1, Dodgers 14 (Final Score) on MLB Gameday". MLB.com. September 24, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  10. "Two Rockies homer on Mother's, Father's Day". MLB.com.
  11. Patrick Saunders (October 30, 2019). "Tyler Anderson, Chad Bettis' departures highlight Rockies' roster moves". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  12. Todd, Jeff (January 10, 2020). "Orioles Claim Richard Urena, Designate Pat Valaika". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  13. Polishuk, Mark (January 16, 2020). "Diamondbacks Claim Pat Valaika". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  14. Steve Adams (January 30, 2020). "Orioles Claim Pat Valaika, Designate Branden Kline". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  15. "Pat Valaika Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  16. "Pat Valaika Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  17. "Orioles Claim Jorge Mateo Off Waivers From Padres". MLB Trade Rumors.
  18. "Orioles Select Pat Valaika". MLB Trade Rumors.
  19. "Four Orioles Players Elect Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors.
  20. TC Zeneka (March 19, 2022). "Braves To Sign Pat Valaika". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  21. "Mariners Moose Tracks, 3/24/23: J.P. Crawford, Rhys Hoskins, and Jed Lowrie". lookoutlanding.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  22. "Dodgers, Mariners pull off trade ahead of All-Star break". clutchpoint.com. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  23. "Valaika brothers make baseball a family affair". Los Angeles Times. April 15, 2010.
  24. Berry, Adam (June 14, 2017). "Valaika joins three brothers as Draft selections". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  25. "Matt Valaika Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
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