Jose Valentin
From BR Bullpen
Jose Antonio Valentin
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
- Debut September 17, 1992
- Born October 12, 1969 in Manati, P.R.
[edit] Biographical Information
Jose Valentin has played fifteen years in the majors, mostly as a shortstop and third baseman. In his five years with the Chicago White Sox, he hit at least 25 home runs each year. Early in his career, Jose was less prominent a player than John Valentin, who broke in the same year, but Jose has outlasted John.
Jose spent the first eight years of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. He typically had a low batting average with a good walk percentage and moderate power. His peak in home runs was 24 in 1996.
Traded to the White Sox, he showed good power with them, slugging at least .463 each year in spite of low batting averages. His peak was 30 home runs in 2004 when he hit .216.
In his only post-season appearance, he hit .300 in the 2000 Division Series. At age 30, Jose was one of the older regulars on a White Sox team that featured many up-and-coming stars such as Paul Konerko, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee and Mark Buehrle.
After he hit only .216 on 2004 (an average which had dropped each year since 2000), his career was in doubt, but he caught on with the Dodgers as a back-up. He hit only .170 with them, and his career was again in doubt, but in 2006 he was still playing in the majors - this time with the Mets, who won their division. Jose slugged .491 in 2006, so it is likely that he will survive to play again next year in the majors.
Based on similarity scores through 2005, the most similar player is a catcher, Mickey Tettleton, who also had good power and drew lots of walks and played a key defensive position.
Jose is the brother of Javier Valentin.
He is also owner of the Atenienses de ManatÃ, for whom he is the captain and a player as well.
