Efraín Antonio Valdez (born July 11, 1966) is a former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

. Valdez played

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

for the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...

in and and the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The f ...

in . He also played for the

Korea Baseball Organization The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO; ko, 한국야구위원회) is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. The KBO was founded in 1981 and has governed two leagues: the KBO League ( ko, KBO 리그) and KBO ...

with the

LG Twins LG Corporation (or LG Group) (), formerly Lucky-Goldstar from 1983 to 1995 (Korean: ''Leokki Geumseong''; ), is a South Korean multinational conglomerate founded by Koo In-hwoi and managed by successive generations of his family. It is ...

in .

Professional career

Efrain Valdez's playing career lasted twenty years and during that time Valdez played with a number of different clubs in five countries: The United States, The

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...

, Mexico, Taiwan and South Korea.

Padres organization

Valdez began his professional playing career on May 4, 1983 when he was signed by the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...

as an amateur free agent. Valdez was assigned to the short season class "A"

Northwest League The Northwest League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Pacific Northwest, Northwestern United States and Western Canada. A Class A Short Season league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Maj ...

Spokane Indians The Spokane Indians are a Minor League Baseball team located in Spokane Valley, the city immediately east of Spokane, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest. The Indians are members of the High-A Northwest League (NWL) as an affiliate of the Color ...

. After playing two seasons, 1983 and 1984, with Spokane, Valdez was purchased from the Padres by the Texas Rangers on December 10, 1984.

Rangers organization

Although he did not play in the minor leagues in 1985, Valdez began playing professionally outside the United States, playing a season in the

Dominican Summer League The Dominican Summer League (DSL) is a branch of affiliated Minor League Baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. After the demise of the Venezuelan Summer League after the 2015 season, it is the only L ...

. He began the 1986 baseball season in the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

but returned to the Rangers organization, where he was assigned to the class double "A"

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

Tulsa Drillers The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club. Stadium The Drillers play at ONEOK Field (pronounc ...

of the Texas League. In 1987, Valdez was sent down to class "A" and spent time with the

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...

Charlotte Rangers The Charlotte Rangers, based in Port Charlotte, Florida, were an American minor league baseball team that existed from 1987 through 2002. The team played at Charlotte County Stadium as a Class A Florida State League affiliate of the Texas Ran ...

before returning to the Drillers. After another season with Tulsa in 1988, Valdez was drafted from the Rangers by the Cleveland Indians in the 1988 rule 5 draft on December 5, 1988.

Indians organization

The Indians assigned Valdez to the

Canton–Akron Indians The Canton–Akron Indians are a defunct Minor League Baseball team. They played in the Eastern League at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton, Ohio from 1989 to 1996. They were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians. History Prior to their ...

of the class double-A Eastern League, where Valdez would play during the 1989 season. The 1990 season was a year filled with highlights for Valdez. He started the season at triple-A with the

Colorado Springs Sky Sox The Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Minor League Baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and was the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2018), Colorado Rockie ...

of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

, then made his major league debut on August 13, 1990 for the Indians. On September 21, Valdez earned his only major league win against the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

.1990 game log for Valdez at Baseball-Reference
/ref> Valdez once again saw playing time with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and the Cleveland Indians during the 1991 season. But Valdez was placed on waivers by the Cleveland Indians and later selected off waivers by the

on July 3, 1991.

Blue Jays organization

After being picked up by Toronto, Valdez was assigned to the triple-A

Syracuse Chiefs Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy *Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' *Province of Syracuse United States *Syracuse, New York **East Syracuse, New York **North Syracuse, New York *Syracuse, Indiana * Syracuse, Kansas *Syracuse, Miss ...

of the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

, where he finished the 1991 season. On October 15, 1991 Valdez was granted free agency, and he signed with the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...

on November 28, 1991.

Milwaukee Brewers organization

After signing with Milwaukee, the Brewers assigned Valdez to the

Denver Zephyrs The Denver Zephyrs (formerly the Denver Bears) were a Minor League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They were a Triple-A team that played in the American Association from 1955 to 1962, the Pacific Coast League from 1963 to ...

of the triple-A

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

for the 1992 season. After spending the 1992 season with the Zephyrs as well, Valdez once again left the states and began playing in Mexico.

Overseas

After two seasons in the Mexican League 1993–94 Valdez played a season overseas in the Taiwan League in 1995 before returning to the Mexican League for two more years 1996–97.

1998: Mets and Diamondbacks

Valdez returned to the states in 1998 when he was signed as a free agent by the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

on January 24, 1998. After signing with the Mets Valdez was assigned to the

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapea ...

of the triple-A International League for the 1998 season. On May 26, 1998 Valdez was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the New York Mets and assigned to the

Tucson Sidewinders , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...

of the triple-A Pacific Coast League. Valdez had a career highlight that season when he made a return to the Major Leagues in 1998 playing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Remaining career

After leaving organized baseball Valdez played a year of independent baseball in 1999 with the Atlantic League's

Atlantic City Surf The Atlantic City Surf were a professional minor league baseball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Surf was most recently a member of the Can-Am League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Surf played its home game ...

. The following year Valdez returned to the Mexican League and played the 2000 season with the

Mexico City Tigres The Quintana Roo Tigers (), formerly known as the Mexico (City) Tigers () are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The team is part of the Southern Division (). The team has won twelve champio ...

. After spending 2001 with the LG Twins of the KBO, Valdez's career came to a close with two more seasons in the Mexican League. Valdez played with the Cordoba Cafeteros and

Tabasco Olmecas The Olmecas de Tabasco (English: Tabasco Olmecs) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Their home ballpark is the Estadio Centenario 27 de Febrero. The Olmecas won their only Mexican Leag ...

in 2002 and with Tabasco and

Vaqueros Laguna The ''vaquero'' (; pt, vaqueiro, , ) is a horse-mounted livestock herder of a tradition that has its roots in the Iberian Peninsula and extensively developed in Mexico from a methodology brought to Latin America from Spain. The vaquero became t ...

in 2003.

Personal life

Valdez is the older brother of former major league pitcher Carlos Valdez, and cousin to three other former major leaguers,

Sergio Valdez Sergio Valdez (born September 7, 1964 in Elias Piña, Dominican Republic) is a former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through with the Montreal Expos (1986, 1992–93), the Atlanta Braves (1989–90), the ...

, Julio Valdez and Rafael Valdez.

Notes

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valdez, Efrain 1966 births Arizona Diamondbacks players Atlantic City Surf players Cleveland Indians players Canton-Akron Indians players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in South Korea Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States KBO League pitchers LG Twins players Living people Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic People from Nizao Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Mexico Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Taiwan Cafeteros de Córdoba players China Times Eagles players Chinatrust Whales players Colorado Springs Sky Sox players Denver Zephyrs players Langosteros de Quintana Roo players Norfolk Tides players Olmecas de Tabasco players Pericos de Puebla players Charlotte Rangers players Saraperos de Saltillo players Spokane Indians players Syracuse Chiefs players Tucson Sidewinders players Tulsa Drillers players Tuneros de San Luis Potosí players Vaqueros Laguna players Tigres de Quintana Roo players