Javier Valentín

Javier Valentín
File:7TH 7676 Javier Valentín.jpg Valentín as a non-roster invitee of the Washington Nationals in 2009 spring training.
Catcher
Born: (1975-09-19) September 19, 1975 Manatí, Puerto Rico
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 13, 1997, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 2008, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Batting average	.251
Home runs	45
Runs batted in	210
Teams
Minnesota Twins (1997–1999, 2002) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003) Cincinnati Reds (2004–2008)

José Javier Valentín Rosario (born September 19, 1975) is a retired catcher in Major League Baseball. From 2004-2008, he played for the Cincinnati Reds after playing with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2003) and playing in four brief stints for the Minnesota Twins from 1997-2002. He is the younger brother of former Major League Baseball second baseman José Valentín. In 2005, he hit .281 with a career-high 14 home runs as a backup catcher for the Reds. He is a switch-hitter. Valentín played briefly at first base and even more infrequently at third base in his time with Cincinnati.

Baseball career

Valentín was drafted on June 3, 1993, by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut on September 13, 1997, and ended up playing three seasons for the Twins.

On November 15, 2002, the Twins traded him with Matt Kinney to the Milwaukee Brewers for Minor League prospects Gerry Oakes and Matt Yeatman. A few months later, the Brewers sent him to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Jason Conti.

After becoming a free agent, Valentín signed with the Cincinnati Reds on January 8, 2004. He remained with the Reds for the five seasons mainly as a back-up catcher and a specialized pinch hitter. He signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals on February 3, 2009, to battle with Wil Nieves to be Washington's backup catcher. However, on March 28, he was reassigned to minor league camp, declined his assignment, and opted to become a free agent.

On May 14, Valentin signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. He was released on June 22, 2009.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs