Bryan Valdez

Bryan Valdez

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 180 lb.

• Born November 27, 1994 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic D.R.

BR register page

Biographical Information

Bryan Valdez has pitched in the minors and for the Dominican national team.

Valdez was signed by Arizona Diamondbacks scout Junior Noboa at age 21, relatively old for a Dominican amateur. He was excellent for the 2016 DSL Diamondbacks 1 at 6-2, 1.73 with only 5 walks and 86 whiffs in 67 2/3 IP, allowing just 43 hits. He led the Dominican Summer League in WHIP, .03 ahead of Omar Fernandez and in strikeouts, 4 ahead of Ivan Jean. He spent all of 2017 on the restricted list, though, after a positive test for Stanozolol, a PED.

In 2018, he came stateside and pitched for four Diamondbacks affiliates, again showing amazing control (one walk in 62 IP). He was with the AZL Diamondbacks (1-0, 1 UER in 6 IP), Missoula Osprey (13 H, 10 R, 7 ER in 6 2/3 IP), Hillsboro Hops (2-0, 3.38 in 4 G) and Kane County Cougars (0-1, 4.73 in 6 G). That winter, he allowed three hits and one run in 2/3 of an inning for the Águilas Cibaeñas.

Valdez bounced around again in 2019 and seemed a bit more human on the control end, though still excellent (29 BB in 113 1/3 IP). He was with Kane County (1-0, 2.03 in 3 G), the Visalia Rawhide (2-5, 4.82 in 11 G) and Jackson Generals (4-3, 4.15 in 11 G), pitching mostly as a starter now. In his first start with Kane County, he retired all 12 batters before Andy Toelken and Blake Workman completed a no-hitter.

Bryan then was on the Dominican squad for the 2019 Premier 12. In a make-or-break game against Team USA, he relieved Carlos Sanó with two outs in the 2nd and a 3-0 deficit, one man aboard. He walked Mark Payton and gave up a run-scoring single to Jo Adell before getting Daulton Varsho on a grounder. After the Dominicans pulled within 4-2, he was relieved in the 3rd by Cristopher Sánchez.