Cesar Valera

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #30 prospect in 2010
  The Cardinals sought to make a big international splash this past summer with a $3.1 million bonus for Wagner Mateo, a highly sought after center fielder from the Dominican Republic. The deal was celebrated as a statement move, but it crumbled a month later when a check of Mateo's vision led St. Louis to void the deal. The development of other players such as Valera could soften the hit. When the Cardinals went scouting Yorman Rodriguez, a Venezuelan outfielder who got $2.5 million from the Reds in 2008, the Cardinals became enamored with Valera. He showed the ability to lay off bad pitches and a line-drive swing that could generate damage as he matures. He doesn't have the raw power potential of Dominican third baseman Roberto de la Cruz, a $1.1 million bonus baby, but Valera outperformed him in the Gulf Coast League last summer. He has solid speed and defensive tools, though it's possible that he may have to move off shortstop once he matures physically. The Cardinals project him as an offensive middle infielder and likely will promote him to Johnson City in 2010.