Rolando Valdez

Rolando Valdez González

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 220 lb.

• Born December 15, 1985 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Rolando Valdez has pitched for the Mexican national team.

Valdez signed initially with the San Diego Padres in 2005. He made his pro debut the next summer, going 7-1 with two saves, .218 opponent average and a 2.70 ERA for the Eugene Emeralds; he also appeared for the Lake Elsinore Storm (5 BB, 6 R in 4 IP) and the Portland Beavers (2 H, 3 BB, 3 R in 4 IP, 0-1). He tied Kevin Pucetas and Cesar Valdez for third in the Northwest League in wins. His record was reversed the next year, going 2-7 with 9 saves and a 4.11 ERA in 58 games for the Fort Wayne Wizards. He led the Midwest League in games pitched and tied R.J. Rodriguez for second in the Padres chain in appearances, behind Aaron Rakers.

The right-hander was 8-5 with four saves and a 4.00 ERA for the 2008 Lake Elsinore Storm. He held opponents to a .239 average in the hitter-friendly California League. The next year, he was with the San Antonio Missions (1-0, 5.01 in 17 G) and Portland Beavers (0-1, 2 R in 1 IP). He was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the minor league portion of the 2009 Rule V Draft.

In 2010, though, he pitched in the Mexican League, going 10-4 with a 5.37 ERA for the Guerreros de Oaxaca, with 53 walks in 107 1/3 IP. He tied for 7th in the Mexican League in victories. He struggled in the 2011 Caribbean Series, giving up five hits and five runs (two earned) in 2/3 of an inning in a loss to the Criollos de Caguas. Rolando also fared poorly with Oaxaca in 2011 (2-4, 7.26). He still made the Mexican squad for the 2011 Pan American Games and stunned Team USA with a win, allowing one run in 5 1/3 IP. In the 2012 Caribbean Series, he was Mexico's ace, allowing four hits and two unearned runs in seven innings for the Yaquis de Obregón, beating the Tigres de Aragua.

Valdez was 5-5 with a 5.93 ERA for the Mexico City Red Devils in 2012, striking out 112 in 109 1/3 IP. He was 5th in the league in strikeouts, between Roberto Ramirez and Andrew Baldwin. Back with the Yaquis in the 2013 Caribbean Series, he again started and excelled in game four, tossing seven shutout innings (5 H, 0 BB) to beat the Navegantes del Magallanes, topping Austin Bibens-Dirkx in a pitching duel.