Jose Valverde

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #16 prospect in 2003
  A big, strapping flamethrower from Baseball City, D.R.--San Pedro de Macoris--Valverde was clocked at 100 mph during spring training in 2002 and claims to have thrown 101 in the Texas League the year before. That's all well and good. But after being added to the 40- man roster in November 2001, Valverde had a lost season in his first crack at Triple-A. He relied almost exclusively on his power fastball but had trouble with location, and the veteran hitters in the Pacific Coast League had no trouble timing him and sending his heat in the other direction. Control is his main issue. He hasn't learned to spot his fastball on the edges of the plate. He also hasn't developed a reliable second pitch, though he has worked on a cutter and a slider. He needs something to keep hitters from cheating on his fastball. It got to the point last season that the Diamondbacks would remove Valverde after a good inning rather than risk him losing confidence by getting hit around in a second inning. He has spent time on the disabled list in each of the last three years with shoulder (2000), elbow (2001) and back ailments (2002), and has never pitched more than 51 innings in a season. His top-notch velocity keeps Valverde on the radar screen, though he still has plenty to prove in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #5 prospect in 2002
  With injured closers Matt Mantei and Bret Prinz unavailable in the postseason, Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly would have loved to call on Valverde's power arm when Byung-Hyun Kim imploded. To get there, Valverde has to prove his durability. A right shoulder strain limited him in 2000, and shoulder tendinitis cut short his 2001 campaign and precluded a trip to winter ball. Compared to Armando Benitez for his intimidating stature and overpowering repertoire, Valverde generates explosive late sink on his 94-96 mph fastball. He also throws a hard slider and operates from a deceptive maximum-effort delivery. Valverde is primarily a two-pitch pitcher, but he needs to develop a third pitch to combat lefthanders, who hit .348 against him last year. He's an animated pitcher who must curb his energy and emotions. He has yet to show the resiliency expected from a closer. Valverde is expected to be fully recovered in time to take Tucson's closer job. He'll be a tempting option should Arizona's bullpen falter again, though he must improve his control and stamina before becoming a dominant closer.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #10 prospect in 2001
  Another Junior Noboa find, Valverde may have closer potential. He struggled at the beginning of 2000 at Class A South Bend, but dominated the competition at Missoula, where he didn't allow a run in 12 appearances. Valverde has an intimidating body and intimidating stuff. He regularly throws in the mid-90s and has touched 98 mph. His slider and splitter can be overpowering as well. He throws with a loose arm action that makes him less susceptible to injury. His biggest problem at South Bend was his inability to harness his fastball, which he did a better job of following his demotion. The Diamondbacks would like to see him throw his splitter more often. Valverde probably will start 2001 at high Class A Lancaster with the hope he can jump to Double-A by the end of the summer. Once he develops into more of a pitcher than a thrower and becomes more acclimated to the United States, the Diamondbacks believe he could make a quick jump through the system.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #16 prospect in 2001
  When Matt Mantei got hurt and the Diamondbacks were trying to decide on a closer, there was talk of promoting Valverde. They resisted, but it's easy to understand their temptation. He throws in the upper-90s and averaged 15.7 strikeouts per nine innings. "He's just overpowering," El Paso pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn said. "His splitter is actually his best pitch, but the fastball is so hot and hard that he doesn't need much else when his control is on." Valverde, who also has a hard slider in his repertoire, throws the ball past most hitters with a relaxed motion and advanced mechanics usually not seen in such a big pitcher. With a menacing demeanor and a flaming fastball, he's a prototypical closer who allowed only one home run all year. Valverde made strides with his control problems before being shut down for the season with a triceps strain in late July.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #12 prospect in 2000
  Valverde is the stealth candidate. He was sent down from Class A South Bend to rehab an injury and spent the last month of the season in the Pioneer League. The managers who saw him tended to gulp a lot and look wide-eyed. And get mad over his Carlos Perez-like antics on the mound. In his 12 appearances, Valverde recorded 35 outs, 24 by strikeout. He allowed exactly zero runs and three hits. He throws 95 mph fairly consistently, and Hale said he hit 98 once. Valverde consistently throws his slider for strikes, and the Osprey staff cajoled him to throw his split-finger pitch more often. "We only saw him once, and there was no chance," Urso said.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #4 prospect in 1999
  Closers at the lower levels of the minor leagues aren't usually top prospects but Valverde, who finished second in the AZL in saves with eight, is an exception. He throws a fastball that is consistently 93-94 mph but tops out at 96 mph with above-average movement. Says Diamondbacks manager Roly de Armas of his closer: "He's crude and still needs work on his slider, but he's got the chance to become a real power pitcher out of the bullpen."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Valverde is the stealth candidate. He was sent down from Class A South Bend to rehab an injury and spent the last month of the season in the Pioneer League. The managers who saw him tended to gulp a lot and look wide-eyed. And get mad over his Carlos Perez-like antics on the mound. In his 12 appearances, Valverde recorded 35 outs, 24 by strikeout. He allowed exactly zero runs and three hits. He throws 95 mph fairly consistently, and Hale said he hit 98 once. Valverde consistently throws his slider for strikes, and the Osprey staff cajoled him to throw his split-finger pitch more often. "We only saw him once, and there was no chance," Urso said.