Jordany Valdespin

Jordany V. Valdespin (born December 23, 1987) is a Dominican professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets and Miami Marlins. He was suspended for 50 games during the 2013 Biogenesis baseball scandal.

Jordany Valdespin
Valdespin with the New York Mets in 2012
Free agent
Second baseman / Outfielder
Born: (1987-12-23) December 23, 1987
San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 23, 2012, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Batting average.216
Home runs15
Runs batted in52
Teams

Professional career

New York Mets

Valdespin began his professional career in 2007, playing for the DSL Mets.[1] That year, he hit .245 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 43 games. In 2008, he played for the GCL Mets, hitting .284 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in 34 games.[1] He split 2009 between the DSL Mets, GCL Mets, Brooklyn Cyclones and Savannah Sand Gnats, hitting a combined .298 with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 67 games.[1] He split 2010 between the St. Lucie Mets and Binghamton Mets, hitting a combined .272 with six home runs, 41 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 93 games.[1] In 2011, Valdespin hit .294 with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in the Mets minor league system.[1]

Jordany Valdespin with the Binghamton Mets in 2011

2012 season

On April 23, 2012 Valdespin was called up for the second game in a doubleheader versus the San Francisco Giants. In his debut Valdespin pinch hit for Manny Acosta in the eighth inning. Valdespin started his first major league game on April 27, playing left field and batting eighth against the Miami Marlins. While pinch hitting on May 7, Valdespin collected his first major league hit, home run and RBI on a three-run home run against Jonathan Papelbon of the Philadelphia Phillies to break a tie in the ninth inning.[2] That same hit made Valdespin the first player to ever record his first hit as a home run off a player who has 200 or more career saves. On July 24, he broke a Mets franchise record by hitting his fifth pinch-hit home run of the season, off of Ryan Mattheus of the Washington Nationals.[3] On August 26 Valdespin was optioned to Triple-A but was recalled on September 4.

2013 season

Valdespin made the Opening Day roster for the New York Mets and was set to platoon in center field with Collin Cowgill.[4] On April 24, 2013, Valdespin hit a walk off grand slam, the first Met to do so since Kevin McReynolds hit one on June 25, 1991 against the Montreal Expos.[5]

On July 15, 2013, Valdespin was sent down to the AAA Las Vegas 51s after hitting only .188 that season, leading to a confrontation with manager Terry Collins in which Valdespin referred to his skipper as a cocksucker before demanding to be placed on the disabled list. This followed several incidents of showboating, most recently on May 11 and 12 when he hit celebrated a home run while down four runs in one game, then was hit by a pitch during a pinch hit appearance the next day in retaliation.[6][7][8]

On August 5, 2013, Valdespin was suspended for 50 games from baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs obtained from Biogenesis.[9] Valdespin was reinstated on September 25, 2013, and assigned to Triple-A.[10] After the season, Valdespin was non-tendered by the Mets, making him a free agent.

Miami Marlins

On December 20, 2013 the Miami Marlins signed Valdespin to a minor league contract.[11] He was called up to the Marlins on July 19, 2014.[12] He was outrighted off the roster on October 10, 2014. He returned to the Major League roster on July 6, 2015. During the 2015 season, Valdespin hit .293 (75-for-256) with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 76 games for the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs.[13]

Detroit Tigers

On December 23, 2015, the Detroit Tigers signed Valdespin to a minor league contract.[14] He elected free agency on November 7, 2016.

Leones de Yucatán

On February 2, 2017, Valdespin signed with the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican Baseball League. He was released on April 18, 2017.

Olmecas de Tabasco

On April 21, 2017, Valdespin signed with the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican Baseball League. He was released on July 5, 2017.

Long Island Ducks

On March 15, 2018, Valdespin signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[15] He hit .338/.399/.487 with 12 home runs, 30 stolen bases and a league-leading 94 runs scored. He also led the league in triples (7) and hits (154). Despite coming up just short of winning the ALPB Batting Title, Valdespin was named the 2018 Independent Leagues Player of the Year by Baseball America.[16]

Minnesota Twins

On January 25, 2019, Valdespin signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins that included an invitation to spring training.[17] He started the 2019 season with the Rochester Red Wings. Valdespin was released on August 9, 2019.

On January 7, 2020, Valdespin signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. Valdespin did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] He later became a free agent

Lexington Legends

On March 4, 2022, Valdespin signed with the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[19] He was released on August 9, 2022.

References
  1. "Jordany Valdespin". Mets.com. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  2. DiComo, Anthony (May 7, 2012). "Valdespin shocks Pap as Mets rally past Phils". MLB.com. Mets.com. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  3. "Valdespin sets Mets record for pinch-hit homers". MLB.com. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  4. Montgomery, Will (18 December 2012). "Mets acquire Cowgill; still a hazy outfield situation in Flushing". HudsonValley.com blogs. Dow Jones Local Media Group. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  5. Chen, Albert (25 April 2013). "Valdespin completes Mets' comeback with walk-off grand slam". The Strike Zone - SI.com. Time. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  6. Mike Puma (July 15, 2013). "Mets' Jordany Valdespin rips manager Terry Collins after demotion". New York Post. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  7. Price, Bill (2013-05-14). "Mets manager Terry Collins loses it over Jordany Valdespin mess, and Zack Wheeler will visit doctor". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  8. "Mets' Jordany Valdespin reportedly called manager Terry Collins a cocksucker, demanded to be placed on disabled list - Amazin' Avenue". Amazinavenue.com. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  9. Castillo, Jorge (5 August 2013). "Jordany Valdespin, Cesar Puello among 12 players to accept suspensions for Biogenesis connections". Star-Ledger. New Jersey. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  10. Dicomo, Anthony (25 September 2013). "Mets reinstate Valdespin, return him to triple-A".
  11. Source: Spin non-tendered
  12. Feldman, Jacob (20 July 2014). "MARLINS NOTEBOOK: Miami Marlins hoping Jordany Valdespin can be answer at second base". Miami Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  13. "Tigers sign 6 players to minor-league deals". The Detroit News. December 23, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  14. Beck, Jason (December 22, 2015). "Valdespin signs Minors deal with Tigers". Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  15. "Former MLB Infielder Valdespin Joins Flock". Long Island Ducks. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  16. Cooper, J.J. (November 30, 2018). "Valdespin Gives Ducks A Boost". Baseball America. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  17. "Antonio Puesán on Twitter".
  18. "Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season". July 2020.
  19. Atlantic League Transactions
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