Julio Valdéz

Note: This page is for 1980s infielder Julio Valdez; for the minor league coach, click here.

Julio Julián Valdéz
born Julio Julián Castillo Valdéz

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut September 2, 1980
• Final Game April 30, 1983
• Born June 3, 1956 in San Cristobal, San Cristobal, D.R.
• Died July 24, 2022 in Nizao, Peravia D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Infielder Julio Valdéz played parts of four seasons in the majors with the Boston Red Sox.

Signed by Boston in late 1975, Valdez made his pro debut with the Winter Haven Red Sox the following year, hitting just .135 and recording 6 errors in a single game. Originally a right-handed batter, he became a switch-hitter in 1978 and saw immediate results at the plate, posting an improved .265 average for the Bristol Red Sox that year.

After spending the next two summers with the Pawtucket Red Sox, Valdez earned a September call-up to the majors in 1980. He made his big league debut on September 2nd, playing shortstop in the 9th inning of a game against the California Angels, and made his first plate appearance and got his first hit (off Byron McLaughlin) against the Seattle Mariners five days later. He began 1981 back with Pawtucket and went 2-for-13 while playing all 33 innings at shortstop in the longest game in Organized Baseball history on April 18th and June 23rd. He was called back up to the bigs in August.

Valdez spent the entire 1982 campaign with the Red Sox but was rarely used, seeing action in just 28 games. However, he was the club's Opening Day starter at second base the following year (replacing an injured Jerry Remy) and appeared in a dozen games that April. On May 6th, he was arrested during a game at Fenway Park and charged with statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl. He claimed innocence, stating the girl had lied about her age, and the team suspended him while the matter was pending. Charges against him were dropped in July, after a grand jury did not return an indictment, and he was then shipped back to the minors. He would never reach the major leagues again.

After playing in the Boston organization in 1984, Valdez spent the last four years of his pro career in the Chicago Cubs chain, mostly with the AAA Iowa Cubs.

After his playing career ended, Valdez returned to the Cubs organization as an instructor for the Wytheville Cubs in 1989. Valdez later managed the DSL Cubs/Padres (1995-1996), DSL Cubs (1997-2001) and DSL Yankees 1 (2008). He also may have coached the same Yankees team in 2007. Starting in 2011 he spent eight years with the Chicago White Sox organization. He served as the field coordinator for the Sox' Dominican Academy from 2011-2014 before managing the DSL White Sox in 2015-2018.

Related Sites

• Julio Valdéz at the SABR Bio Project
• Rape Charges Dropped
• Sox' Valdez Gets His Chance To Play
• Valdez Valdez Back In Minors, But Future Looks Bright
• Valdez, in Court, Denies Charges