Wilson Valdez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #29 prospect in 2005
  It never hurts a player's upward mobility to be acquired on the recommendation of the major league manager. That's the case with Valdez, who had stalled in the Marlins system before coming to the White Sox for Billy Koch last June. He became a pet project for Chicago skipper Ozzie Guillen in spring training two years ago, when Guillen was Florida's third-base coach. Valdez had been a good-field, no-hit shortstop known for his moodiness but came out of his shell after Guillen showered him with praise. Valdez' best tools are his range in the field and speed on the bases. His arm is average. He has become a better hitter by gaining some strength without losing the ability to use his speed to get on base. He's a good bunter and a decent hit-and-run man. His .311 average in Triple-A last season shows he's growing as a hitter but he doesn't collect enough extra-base hits or walks to be considered as a regular. Valdez does appear ready to be an extra infielder in the big leagues, especially for a White Sox team emphasizing speed and defense, and could be a pleasant surprise if he gets extended playing time.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #17 prospect in 2004
  Stuck playing second base in Double-A at the start of 2003, Valdez made huge strides in terms of his offense and his attitude. A long talk with Ozzie Guillen, then the Marlins' third base coach and now the White Sox' manager, got him headed in the right direction at spring training. Valdez went from a moody, occasionally surly sort to a consistently hard worker who played with tremendous energy. Valdez earned an early-season callup to Triple-A Albuquerque, swapping places with the disappointing Jesus Medrano and pushing Kevin Hooper off shortstop and over to second base. Plucked off waivers from the Expos in the spring of 2002, Valdez has good bat speed with minimal gap power and an understanding of his limitations. Wiry strong, he slaps the ball around, bunts often, moves runners, keeps his strikeouts low and projects as a solid No. 2 or No. 8 hitter. His instincts on the bases are strong and he has shown the ability to convert his above-average speed into a high stolen base percentage. He's a plus defender at shortstop with a solid-average arm and plus range. A late-season thumb injury on his glove hand required surgery but Valdez should challenge for a big league utility job in the spring.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #24 prospect in 2002
  Valdez scaled two levels in his fifth professional season and made significant improvement that never showed up in the stats. The Expos say the more you watch him, the more you end up liking him. Valdez is a superb defensive shortstop with outstanding range to both sides and good hands. He has excellent lateral movement and a plus arm with accuracy. Valdez has a simple line-drive stroke at the plate, uses the whole field and is a proficient bunter. When he gets in a rut, he'll start his trigger late and drop his bat head towards the catcher. He tends to swing at balls out of the strike zone. The Expos praise his intelligence and ability to anticipate both on defense and on the bases. Valdez is an average runner who gets down the line. With Orlando Cabrera and Brandon Phillips in front of him, Valdez will be given plenty of time to develop and may have a position change in his future. He'll do so this year at Harrisburg.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #25 prospect in 2001
  Valdez was signed out of Nizao Bani, the same hometown as Vladimir Guerrero. An outstanding defensive shortstop with instincts beyond his years, he possesses soft hands and excellent range. His arm strength is above-average and he has quick, smooth actions to the ball. Former Expos minor league infield instructor Jerry Royster went so far as to say that Valdez was the best defensive shortstop he had ever seen. His body has matured and started to fill out since he came to the United States in 1999. He projects as a line-drive hitter with potential gap power, but he has a long swing and is too impatient at the plate. Valdez makes the most of his average speed by getting solid jumps and reads on the basepaths. As with Josh Reding and Josh McKinley, Valdez will have to hit in order to show off his defensive prowess in Montreal. He's finally ready for his first extended stint in full-season ball.