If there is one borderline roster player I am interested in keeping tabs on early in this spring and into the regular season, it’s Emmanuel Valdez. Few players in the system can match his raw offensive upside. In just 128 games between the Red Sox and Astros systems, Valdez launched 28 home runs, drove in 107 RBIs, and posted a solid .296/.376/.542 slashline. To be fair, most of this damage was done in Double-A Corpus Christi, but Valdez still posted an OPS over .900 with Houston’s Triple-A club, and has 17 extra-base hits in 44 games after landing in Worcester.
Unlike some of the best offensive prospects in the Red Sox system, Valdez is ready to contribute right now. He’s already 24 years old and has shown the necessary strides you look for in a young hitter. He raised his average by over 40 points from 2021, cut down on his strikeout rate, and increased his walk rate. From an offensive standpoint, there is little Valdez has to prove offensively in the minor leagues.
You may have noticed that I made sure to clarify that Valdez has little to prove offensively. Defensively, Valdez has a lot to work on. Soxprospects describes his defense as “can make the average play,” which is not exactly what you want to hear. Despite playing primarily second and third in the minor leagues, they project that Valdez will eventually have to move to left field or first base which, besides being less than ideal for someone who is 5’9, will put even more pressure on his bat.
It should tell you then just how good Valdez’s bat is that he is even being considered for a big-league spot. The Red Sox, whether intentionally or not, did not acquire a left-handed bench bat this offseason, which opens the door for Valdez, who hit .996 against righties last season. If the Red Sox struggle offensively to start the season, I expect the Red Sox to call up Valdez and worry about the defense later.
Stats: .263/.324/.440 61 G 4 HR 22 RBI 0.1 WAR
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