The Keepers - #14 (17) - IF Jordany Valdespin

Photo by Michael G. Baron

14. SS Jordany Valdespin



Valdespin was signed by the Mets as an undrafted international free agent in 2006.


He played one year for the DSL Mets, in 2007, hitting .245/.369/.338/.707 in 139 at bats. Someone must have liked what they saw in that .239 batting average because he went stateside in 2008.


In 2008, Valdespin played the entire season for the GCL Mets, though he only had 134 at bats. He hit .284/.319/.440


In 2009, Valdespin started the season for Savannah and was close to leading the league in hitting Then, something happened. He was suspended from the team, banished back to extended camp, and eventually wound up back for the DSL team (.333/..421/.600/1.021 in 15 at bats).


Next stop was the GCL Mets followed by Brooklyn (.279/.338/.397) where he finished the season.


1-1-10 Forecast: - As many of you know, I’m one of the beat reporters for the Savannah Sand Gnats and I’m pretty close with the folks there. That being said, I never could find out what Valdespin did to cause him being taken out of A ball when he was doing so well. All I can say is it was definitely something no one wanted to talk about. The next question would be, if the Mets management doesn’t change at the A-level, where does Valdespin play in 2010? Hopefuly, all is forgiven because he has showed to be a pretty good 1 or 2 hitter in a lineup.


I wrote on 2-10-10: - Jordany Valdespin – this is the one you have to watch… highest ceiling of any Mets infielder in the system, and maybe the highest ceiling of any player period… the boy can hit, but also can piss off the coaches, so hopefully, we’ll see a new level of maturity this season. Remember his name… he’s a future major leaguer.


4-19-10: - Stock Up: Valdespin has been a hitting machine since the day he came stateside in 2008. .284 for the GCL Mets that year… led the Sally League, early, in hitting in 2009… and now hitting his stride at A+, with stats of .310/.310/.524/.833. Other than the fact that he doesn’t walk, he quickly is establishing himself as the top second base prospect in the system. I wrote on Feb 10: “Jordany Valdespin – this is the one you have to watch… highest ceiling of any Mets infielder in the system, and maybe the highest ceiling of any player period… the boy can hit, but also can piss off the coaches, so hopefully, we’ll see a new level of maturity this season. Remember his name… he’s a future major leaguer.” I expect the 22-year old to stay put at Lucy this season. Play Binghamton in 2011, and then… who knows…


2-23-11: - Stock Up: - 2B/SS Jordany Valdespin – word from camp is that Valdespin turned heads during his infield workout along with other Mets vying for a Queens job. He simply was faster than the rest of the guys, both in getting to the ball and also getting back into postion for the next ground. He has been known to get lazy on routine balls, but not sof ar this spring.


3-14-11: - Up: - 2B/SS – Jordany Valdespin – what I’m hearing now is the Mets coaches are in love with Valdy’s game down in spring training. I have no idea what that means but my guess is he will play 2B in Buffalo with Ruben Tejada on short. This will bump Reese Havens back to Binghamton to team with Wilmer Flores and Jenry Marte. This is a real positive problem.


4-23-11 – Down – SS – Jordany Valdespin – No one had more positive press going into this season than Valdespin. The Mets brass at spring training fell in love with him and it looks like they put the old curse on him. Valdy looks lost right now, leading the team in errors while hitting just .159.


6-3-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/6/3/2203724/new-york-mets-daily-farm-system-report-6-3-11 Jordany Valdespin - Was still nursing his injury for the games I saw in New Britain. Saw him Memorial Day in Binghamton, so I can't really give you much of a report, but I would like to note that the makeup issues are still there. I'm not a big makeup guy, but Valdespin was basically throwing a tantrum after every out he made at bat, throwing his bat and cursing in Spanish (I assume) all the way up the line. You'd like to see him keep a little more cool at this point, though I can imagine it is frustrating playing for Bingo this year.


6-18-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2011/2611960.html - Scouts never questioned Valdespin's raw tools, but they cautioned that the young middle infielder's game required a lot of refinement. Playing shortstop every day at Double-A may have afforded Valdespin that extra incentive he needed to mature. He's swiped 16 bases in 19 tries on the year, and in June he's turned on the power (five homers, .733 slugging) and tuned down the strikeouts (11 percent of at-bats). His performance may prove to be a statistical blip, but the Mets have to be happy with what they've seen lately


6-24-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/aa-thursday-valdespin-continues-torrid-june-in-b-mets-win - Jordany Valdespin was 2-2 with a walk and two stolen bases, one of third. In 18 games in June, he’s hitting .362/.413/.667 to push his season line to a strong .288/.340/.473. He has 24 extra-base hits and is 21 of 25 stealing bases. His June surge has to be the most positive development on the position player side in the system.


6-29-11: - team press release: - Jordany Valdespin has been selected to represent the Binghamton Mets at the 2011 Eastern League All-Star Game at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire on July 13. Infielder Jordany Valdespin appears in his first professional All-Star Game. The native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic has hit .283 with eight home runs in 68 games this season. A member of the New York Mets’ 40-man roster, Valdespin leads the team and is tied for third in the Eastern League with 22 stolen bases.Ranked as the 25th best prospect in the Mets’ system by Baseball America, Valdespin is currently playing in his 4th season of pro baseball. The middle infielder hit .432 during a nine-game hitting streak in May, tied for the longest streak for any B-Met this year.


7-4-11: - Valdespin continues to be an enigma wrapped in a riddle. Yes, he went 4-5 last night and had two more stolen bases, but he had to try and stretch a single into a double and was out by a mile for the last out of the game. Your team is down by one in the last inning, with two out and you have to try and make the highlight film once again. Valdespin continues to show the Mets two sides of his game. One, his talent, and two, his lack of regard for team play.


7-14-11: - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/11/2270752/mets-minors-road-report-binghamton-7-9-brooklyn-7-10 - I am pretty high on Valdespin. He’s already walked more this year then he did all of last year, and he’s turned some doubles into home runs. These are both good signs, as it means the tools are starting to turn into baseball skills. He showed everything that makes him both a intriguing prospect and a maddening one in the doubleheader. He chased a high fastball to strike out, he dropped a perfect drag bunt for a basehit, he laced a 2 RBI double to right, and he got a little fancy with a flip to Satin to try and start the 6-4-3. Part of the reason he had to try the flip to Satin is he is not as rangy as you would expect, and despite his speed and base stealing ability, he hasn’t quite figured out shortstop. He’s a second baseman in the end, probably, albeit one who has an all-star ceiling.


7-22-11: - Following minor leaguers is all about trying to find someone that will become a start in the majors. No one ever questioned Valdespin’s talent since the day he signed on as a Met. It was always his work ethics and attitude; however, it looks like the kid is becoming a man and may be a futre peg in the Mets infield some day. He’s batting .304 for Binghamton, with 13-HRs, and 29-SB. Make that .324 in the past 10 games.