Norlando Valle

Norlando Francisco Valle Miranda (Gasolina)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 8", Weight 190 lb.

• Born August 2, 1994 (per 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games site, 2019 Pan American Games site) or September 8, 1994 (per BR Register) in León, León Nicaragua

BR register page

Biographical Information

Norlando Valle has played for the Nicaraguan national team.

He debuted in Nicaragua in 2013, hitting only .119/.245/.119 for Leon. In 2014, he improved to .281/.383/.368, followed by .324/.387/.434 and .307/.362/.441. He hit .364 in the finals of the 2017-2018 Nicaraguan Professional League to win finals MVP. He then made Nicaragua's team for the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, serving as their leadoff man and center fielder. He drove in their only run against Colombia, had two runs in a 5-4 win over Venezuela and rapped three hits against Cuba, finishing at .269/.367/.346 while playing error-free defense (21 PO, 1 A). He led the event's center fielders in fielding; Aldo Méndez was next at 19 putouts with no errors.

In the 2019 Pan American Games Qualifier, he was 0 for 4 as a backup; Nicaragua won a spot in the 2019 Pan American Games. In the 2019 Pan Am Games, he and Isaac Benard had the only hits off defending champion Team Canada's Philippe Aumont. In the Bronze Medal Game, he was 4 for 4 in the win over Colombia. He hit .412/.500/.471 and was not that busy in the outfield (4 PO, 1 A, 0 E in 5 G). He tied Yordanis Samón for 8th in the event in average. He hit .389/.463/.595 with 60 runs in 63 games. He was on Nicaragua's announced roster for the 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers before that was one of the first baseball events canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Valle batted .330/.425/.425 in 28 games for Leon in 2020 and .333/.447/.492 in 16 games for Jinotega. In the 2021 Americas Olympic Qualifier, he was 1 for 6 with a RBI. His lone hit came off the Dominican national team's Leuris Gómez. He hit .319/.398/.491 for Leon that summer. In the Nicaraguan Winter League, he produced at a .374/.416/.452 clip for the Tigres de Chinandega. In the 2022 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, he backed up Luis Montealto in left for Nicaragua. He was 2 for 4 with a walk and a RBI as they won a spot in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, their first World Baseball Classic.