Rafael Emilio Valdez Díaz (born December 17, 1967) is a former

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), ...

pitcher. He played for 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 ...

in .

Career

Valdez began his professional career as a

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...

, playing two seasons at that position with the

Charleston Rainbows Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

in 1986–87. He converted to pitching in . In , Valdez pitched a

perfect game Perfect game may refer to: Sports * Perfect game (baseball), a complete-game win by a pitcher allowing no baserunners * Perfect game (bowling), a 300 game, 12 consecutive strikes in the same game * Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, New York ...

for the

Riverside Red Wave The Riverside Red Wave were a Minor League Baseball team in Riverside, California. The Red Wave were Class A-Advanced California League affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Plagued by poor attendance, the franchise moved to Adelanto following the 1 ...

.Minor leaguer tosses perfection
/ref> After his major league career, Valdez continued to pitch in minor league baseball until , when he played for the

Allentown Ambassadors The Allentown Ambassadors were an independent baseball team that competed in the Northeast League and the Northern League from 1997 until 2003. They played their home games at Bicentennial Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania. History In 1996, Al ...

of the

Northeast League The Northeast League was a professional independent baseball league that operated in the Northeastern United States from 1995 until 1998 and from 2003 until 2004. Between 1999 and 2002, the league was part of the Northern League after the two lea ...

Notes

External links

1967 births Living people People from Nizao Allentown Ambassadors players Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs players Albany Diamond Dogs players Baseball shortstops Canton-Akron Indians players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic San Diego Padres players Broncos de Reynosa players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Mexico Charleston Rainbows players Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players Leones de Yucatán players Mercuries Tigers players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Taiwan Riverside Red Wave players Spokane Indians players Wichita Wranglers players {{DominicanRepublic-baseball-pitcher-stub