Wilson Valdez

Wilson Antonio Valdez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 160 lb.
• High School Liceo Aliro Paulino
• Debut September 7, 2004
• Final Game October 3, 2012
• Born May 20, 1978 in Nizao, Peravia, D.R.

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Biographical Information

Wilson Valdez was signed by scouts Fred Ferreira and Arturo DeFreitas for the Montreal Expos in February 1997. He made his pro debut that summer with the DSL Expos.

Valdez signed with the KIA Tigers for 2008. He hit just .218/.263/.308 in 47 games and was let go. He was then signed by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, with the plan being that he would be available when Shinya Miyamoto would go to the Olympics.

On May 25, 2011, playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, Valdez became the first position player in 11 years to earn a win, and the first starting non-pitcher in 90 years to do so. He was pressed into mound duty for the first time in his professional career when a game with the Cincinnati Reds lasted into the 19th inning. He pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the 19th, allowing only a hit batsman and a wild pitch, then got the win when his teammates scored a run off Carlos Fisher in the bottom of the inning. Valdez had started the game playing second base: he was the first player to start a game as a non-pitcher and then get the win since Babe Ruth, on October 1, 1921. Brent Mayne had been the last position player to earn a win before him, on August 22, 2000.

Valdez was infield coach of the DSL Nationals in 2021-2022.

Related Sites

• Wilson Valdez on mlb.com