AB 248
AVG .238
OBP .282
SLG .351
HR 5
  • Full name Christopher Andrew Valaika
  • Born 08/14/1985 in Santa Monica, CA
  • Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School UC Santa Barbara
  • Debut 08/24/2010
  • Drafted in the 3rd round (84th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 (signed for $437,500).
    View Draft Report
    Scouts have had a long time to evaluate Valaika against quality competition. He was on three USA Baseball teams, winning a gold medal in 2001 with the youth national team and a silver medal in 2003 with the Pan American Games junior national team. He earned a gold medal at the World University Games with the college national team in 2004 as an infield reserve behind future first-round picks Jed Lowrie, Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Zimmerman. However, Valaika hit a speed bump last year when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He has worked hard to come back and doesn't wear a brace on his knee. He's a hard worker with solid-average tools. Most of his success owes to his good hands. He shows quick hands at the plate that generate average power, particularly inviting for a player who should stay in the infield defensively. Valaika's hands work well in the infield, though his range at shortstop is below-average and he's a fringe-average runner. With better patience at the plate, Valaika's power should increase. His makeup is a significant plus. He can play second base and has enough arm for third, making him an ideal utility infielder.

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Minor League Top Prospects

Best Tools List

  • Rated Best Defensive 2B in the International League in 2010

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