Sebastian Valle

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #14 prospect in 2013
  Valle signed as a 16-year-old for $30,000 out of Los Mochis, Mexico, where he impressed international supervisor Sal Agostinelli in a private workout. Valle moved up the ladder one level per year, catching staffs full of hard throwers, then moved up to Triple-A when the Phillies acquired backstop Tommy Joseph in the Hunter Pence last July. Valle generates above-average raw power thanks to quick hands and explosive wrists, but he has poor plate discipline. He has an overly aggressive hitting approach and his instinct is to cheat on inner-half fastballs, which leaves him susceptible to breaking stuff. Valle should be at least average defensively. He moves well laterally, is a sure-handed receiver and has plus arm strength, though he doesn't consistently get his feet underneath him on stolen-base attempts. He threw out 26 percent of basestealers last season. Valle runs well for a catcher and has taken ground balls at third base in the past, and one scout suggested that trying him there again might give him a different perspective at the plate. He should return to Lehigh Valley to open 2013.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #3 prospect in 2012
  Phillies international supervisor Sal Agostinelli worked out Valle in his hometown of Los Mochis, Mexico, and came away uninspired. But Agostinelli still followed the raw catcher closely in tournaments and eventually signed him for $30,000. Valle has flourished since and played in the Futures Game in 2011, when he was the Florida State League's youngest everyday catcher. Employing a high leg kick, Valle generates impressive bat speed with his quick hands and explosive wrists, leading to above-average raw power. He's overly aggressive and he gets pull-happy, making his swing long at times. When he's on, he stays inside the ball well and works the opposite field. He posted just a .589 OPS in the second half of 2011 as his defensive responsibilities took a toll on his body. An athletic backstop, Valle moves well behind the plate with solid blocking and receiving skills. His solid arm and improved footwork produce 1.9-second pop times and enabled him to throw out 32 percent of FSL basestealers. Valle is the Phillies' catcher of the future, though he'll likely continue to move one level at time. After joining the 40-man roster in November, he'll handle a prospect-heavy Reading staff in 2012.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #6 prospect in 2011
  Phillies international supervisor Sal Agostinelli runs a budget-minded department that signed Valle for $30,000 out of Mexico in 2006. Since struggling at Lakewood to start 2009, Valle has taken bigger strides than any other player in the system. He was named short-season Williamsport's MVP that summer and impressed in the Mexican Pacific League that winter, then conquered low Class A last season. Valle has the tools to hit for power and play good defense. He employs a high leg kick to keep his weight back, and his strong wrists that generate pure bat speed. He must work on making more contact and showing more discipline, as he gets pull-happy and is a free swinger. He looks overmatched at times against premium pitching. Valle's arm strength and release improved in the second half of 2010, and he threw out 33 percent of basestealers last season. His receiving skills also are also solid. He moves well behind the plate, though he's a below-average runner. The Phillies had enough confidence in Valle to include backstops Lou Marson and Travis d'Arnaud in trades for Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay. With Carlos Ruiz entrenched in Philadelphia, Valle doesn't have to be rushed. He'll manage Clearwater's deep pitching staff in 2011.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #7 prospect in 2010
  The Phillies saw Valle shine in international competitions for Mexico at the 16-andunder level, ripping hits against top pitchers from Cuba and the United States. They signed him for $30,000. Playing for his hometown team in Los Mochis, he was one of the youngest players in the Mexican Pacific League this winter and was the season's first player of the week. Valle has natural hitting instincts and plus raw power that stems from his pure bat speed. He has excellent timing and a good load in his swing, as well as the strength to drive the ball to all fields. He has a good plan at the plate for a teenager and is an average runner, though he figures to slow down. Valle's defensive tools are average across the board. Low Class A pitchers overwhelmed Valle a bit in 2009 as he got pull-happy and impatient, though he adjusted after a move down to short-season Williamsport. He needs to polish his footwork and throwing accuracy, and he'll never have a cannon for an arm. He threw out just 18 percent of basestealers last season. With Travis d'Arnaud ahead of him, Valle could move a level at a time, working to polish his defense. Both players have taken grounders at third base as the Phillies look ahead. Valle will stay behind the plate and take another shot at low Class A in 2010.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Florida State League #12 prospect in 2011
  The youngest everyday catcher in the league, Valle excelled in the first half, hitting .343/.355/.482 before tailing off. He hit 16 homers in low Class A year ago, but the FSL's difficult hitting environments took their toll on his power production. When he's going well, Valle displays tremendous bat speed and stays inside the ball well, showing he could drive balls to right-center. He has the potential for average raw power, but he needs to shorten his swing and refine his approach. He gets too pull-conscious and is too much of a free swinger, allowing opponents to exploit him by pitching backwards. Valle is an athletic catcher with solid blocking and receiving skills who handled a prospect-laden pitching staff replete with hard throwers. He has a strong arm and improved his footwork on his throws this year, doing a better job of staying balanced and not falling off to the side. He threw out 32 percent of basestealers.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #19 prospect in 2010
  Valle stands out the most defensively, especially with the way he handled the SAL's hardest-throwing staff. He has solid catch-and-throw skills and good footwork (though he tends to shift too early), and he blocks balls well. He threw out 33 percent of basestealers. "He's got a great build for a catcher," Hagerstown manager Matt LeCroy said. "He does a lot of things well, including throwing the ball. He moves around real well back there, and he's got some power at the plate that will continue to improve." Valle spent two months in the league last year, and those who saw him then thought his hitting approach regressed. He put up better numbers in 2010, but he wrapped his bat well behind his head and the upper and lower halves of his body rarely worked together in his swing. He showed the ability to use the middle of the field during batting practice, but he focused solely on power and was a straight pull hitter in games.
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  Ranked New York-Penn League #4 prospect in 2009
  Valle started 2008 by hitting .217 against much older competition in the low Class A South Atlantic League, but he ranked sixth in the NY-P with an .866 OPS after he was sent down to Williamsport. He stands out most for his bat, though multiple managers said he improved significantly behind the plate as the season progressed. "He's a young, 19-year-old kid learning how to catch, and he's come a long way," Williamsport manager Chris Truby said. "His receiving and blocking have come along well, and he's starting to throw better, which is encouraging. At times he shows arm strength. He just needs more polish." Valle is an aggressive hitter with average power potential and a mature approach for his age, though he struck out three times as much as he walked at his two minor league stops this year. He shows good pitch recognition and uses the right-center gap well, and he also can turn on pitches over the inner half.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #7 prospect in 2008
  The Phillies discovered Valle playing for a Mexican club in an international tournament in Venezuela and signed him in the fall of 2006 for $38,000. He played in the Dominican Summer League last year before making a successful U.S. debut this summer. An offensive-minded catcher, Valle has good hands at the plate and legitimate power. He does have a tendency to chase pitches out of the zone and needs to improve his pitch recognition. Defensively, Valle has shown improvement from a year ago and has become a good receiver and blocker. He has arm strength behind the plate, but his throwing mechanics can get long and he threw out 24 percent of GCL basestealers. He did show an advanced ability to read batters' swings and game-calling savvy.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Phillies international supervisor Sal Agostinelli worked out Valle in his hometown of Los Mochis, Mexico, and came away disappointed. But Agostinelli continued to follow the raw catcher closely in tournaments and eventually signed him for $30,000. Valle has flourished since and played in the Futures Game in 2011, when he was the Florida State League's youngest everyday catcher. Scouting Report: Employing a high leg kick, Valle generates impressive bat speed with his quick hands and explosive wrists, leading to above-average raw power. He's overly aggressive and he gets pull-happy, making his swing long at times. When he's on, he stays inside the ball well and works the opposite field. He posted just a .589 OPS in the second half of 2011 as his defensive responsibilities took a toll on his body. An athletic backstop, Valle moves well behind the plate with solid blocking and receiving skills. His solid arm and improved footwork produce 1.9-second pop times and enabled him to throw out 32 percent of FSL basestealers. The Future: Valle is the Phillies' catcher of the future, though he'll likely continue to move one level at time. He'll handle a prospect-heavy Reading staff in 2012 and figures to reach Philadelphia in 2014.