Jordany Valdespin

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Mets #11 prospect in 2012
  Carlos Beltran mentored Valdespin during spring training, warning him that opportunity might pass him by if he did not shape up. To his credit, Valdespin quieted criticism of his immaturity by turning in his finest offensive season. With 15 homers and 33 steals, he was one of the Double-A Eastern League's most dynamic power/speed talents at the time of his early-August promotion to Triple-A. Though he lacks much of a plan at the plate, Valdespin makes enough contact to hit perhaps .270 one day, though a low walk rate will hurt his on-base percentage. He has just enough power to get himself in trouble. He's at his best when he's slashing doubles and triples into the gaps and putting his solid-average speed to good use, rather than wildly uppercutting and selling out for power. Valdespin hasn't demonstrated the concentration level to hold down shortstop on a regular basis, but his average range and arm strength play well at second base, his primary position prior to 2011. He rubs some scouts the wrong way because he doesn't always give 100 percent, but as a lefthanded batter who flashes enough ability to hit, run, field and throw, he could have a future as a utility player or fringe starter at second base.
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  Ranked New York Mets #25 prospect in 2011
  Valdespin played at six different levels of the minors in 2009-10, topping out at Double-A last August. On the flip side, he bottomed out in 2009 when he landed in the Dominican Summer League as he began the rehab process from a badly sprained ankle. In both seasons, the Mets removed Valdespin from game action to cool him down after clashes with coaches and managers. Last season the organization suspended him twice for such outbursts, while in 2009 they sent him to extended spring training for two weeks. Ultimately, the Mets concluded that Valdespin's athleticism, quick lefty bat and speed would make him attractive to teams in the Rule 5 draft, so they added him to the 40-man roster in November. (They also may have recalled losing raw talents like Enrique Cruz and Jesus Flores in past Rule 5 drafts.) With a live, projectable body, Valdespin whips the bat through the zone and could hit .270 one day, but only if he tones down his aggressive approach. He has modest power for a middle infielder, though it's below-average overall. He's not an instinctive basestealer, but he's a plus runner capable of racking up 20 steals in a season. The Mets have tried Valdespin at shortstop for brief periods, but he lacks the concentration and throwing accuracy to play there on a full-time basis. He has the soft hands, average arm and quick feet necessary for second base, where he's an average defender. Valdespin's flashy, immature approach rubs a lot of observers the wrong way, but his tools are promising enough to intrigue the Mets as a potential middle-infield reserve. He'll return to Double-A in 2011.
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  Ranked New York Mets #30 prospect in 2010
  Valdespin hit .385/.406/.615 in the first three weeks of the 2009 season, but he had numerous clashes with Savannah's coaching staff. In late April, the Mets sent him to extended spring for two weeks to get his act together. He immediately went 0-for-25 after rejoining the Sand Gnats, and his average plummeted to .280 by late May. Valdespin was just heating up again, going on a 14-for-27 tear, when he badly sprained his ankle on June 2. He missed two months before spending August with the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Mets, the GCL Mets and Brooklyn. Though Valdespin has a lot of movement at the plate and an aggressive approach, he has a quick bat and makes consistent hard contact. He has the potential to hit for average with a bit of gap power. He has average to slightly above-average speed and some basestealing ability. Though he saw some time at shortstop in 2009, his average arm and range fit better at second base. Valdespin has a lot to prove this season. He was old for low Class A at age 21 last season, and his history of insubordination doesn't help his cause.