Ismael Valdéz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ismael Valdéz |
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Valdez with Tigres de Quintana Roo at Los Pinos in 2013
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: August 21, 1973 Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico |
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| debut | |||
| June 15, 1994, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 2005, for the Florida Marlins | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 104–105 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.09 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,173 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Ismael Valdéz Alvarez, born on August 21, 1973, is a former professional baseball pitcher from Mexico. During his time playing in the major leagues, he was known as "The Rocket" in his home country.
Ismael Valdéz: A Baseball Journey
Starting with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Ismael Valdéz joined the Los Angeles Dodgers when he was just 17 years old. He signed with them on June 14, 1991. That same year, he started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Dodgers. He had a good start, winning 2 games and losing 2, with a low 2.32 ERA (Earned Run Average) in 10 games.
For the next two years, the Dodgers loaned him to the Mexico City Tigres in the Mexican League. He played very well there, winning 16 games and striking out 115 batters. He even helped the Tigres win the championship in 1992. In 1993, he returned to the U.S. to play for the San Antonio Missions. By 1994, he moved up to the AAA Albuquerque Dukes.
Major League Debut
Valdéz made his big league debut on June 15, 1994, when he was only 20 years old. He was the youngest player in Major League Baseball at that time. He pitched two innings without allowing any runs against the Cincinnati Reds. His first win came on July 5 against the Montreal Expos. He made his first start in the Majors on July 18 against the New York Mets. In his first season, he played 21 games, winning 3 and losing 1, with a 3.18 ERA.
In 1995, Valdéz played his first full season in the major leagues. He finished with 13 wins and 11 losses, striking out 150 batters. He also completed 6 games, which means he pitched the entire game without needing a reliever. In 1996, he was one of the best pitchers in the National League. He allowed two or fewer runs in 19 of his 33 starts.
A Challenging Game Moment
On August 27, 2000, while pitching for the Dodgers, Valdéz was involved in a tense moment during a game. After a Dodgers player hit two home runs, the opposing pitcher threw a pitch close to the next batter. Later in the game, Valdéz threw a pitch that hit a player from the other team. The umpire warned him, and then after another pitch, Valdéz hit the player again. He was then removed from the game. He later received a suspension for this incident.
Overall, Valdéz played 185 games for the Dodgers from 1994 to 2000. He had a record of 61 wins and 57 losses, with a 3.48 ERA. He also struck out 784 batters. He played in the playoffs with the Dodgers in 1995 and 1996.
Playing for Other Teams
Chicago Cubs and Back to Dodgers
On December 12, 1999, Valdéz was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He pitched in 12 games for the Cubs in 2000, winning 2 and losing 4. On June 26, 2000, he was traded back to the Dodgers. He made 8 more starts for the Dodgers that year.
Anaheim Angels
In 2001, Valdéz signed with the Anaheim Angels. He had 9 wins and 13 losses with a 4.45 ERA for them.
Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners
He then signed with the Texas Rangers in 2002. Later that year, on August 19, 2002, the Rangers traded him to the Seattle Mariners. He pitched in 8 games for the Mariners, winning 2 and losing 3. After that season, he signed with the Texas Rangers again. He played 45 games for the Rangers in 2002 and 2003, winning 14 and losing 17.
San Diego Padres and Florida Marlins
On December 18, 2003, Valdéz signed with the San Diego Padres. He played 23 games for them, winning 9 and losing 6. On July 31, 2004, he was traded to the Florida Marlins. He played two seasons with the Marlins, winning 7 games and losing 5. He missed most of the 2005 season because of a leg injury.
Return to Mexican Baseball
After several years away from professional baseball, Ismael Valdéz returned to play in 2013. He joined the Tigres de Quintana Roo in the Mexican League.
Personal Life
Before the 2004 baseball season, Ismael Valdéz used a slightly different spelling for his last name, Valdés.
