Enmanuel Valdez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #19 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Signed by the Astros for $450,000 in 2015, Valdez's first four minor league seasons proved undistinguished. After working to stay back on the ball to help him better track pitches and drive the ball to the opposite field, Valdez in 2021 hit a career-high 26 homers, two more than he hit from 2016-19. He followed that with a bonkers performance (.327/.410/.606 with 21 homers in 82 games) for Houston's Double-A and Triple-A teams in 2022 before becoming the lead piece in a deadline deal for catcher Christian Vazquez. Valdez saw his numbers fall with Triple-A Worcester, but the Red Sox added a near big league-ready bat to their 40-man roster.
  
  Scouting Report: Valdez coils with a pronounced crouch and sizable leg kick before exploding into the ball, holding back little while driving balls in the air to all fields, especially against righties. Despite his pre-swing movement, Valdez doesn't have too much swing-and-miss to his game, though his strikeout rate did tick up after the trade. His strength and bat-to-ball skills create the potential for an average hitter with above-average power, though with major questions about his position. A below-average runner, Valdez has limited range at second makes that him a below-average option there, and he doesn't look better at third base or left field.
  
  The Future: Defensive development will determine if Valdez is an up-and-down bat or carves out a stable role as a bat-first platoon contributor off the bench, though there's a chance he could be more. He will open 2023 in Triple-A but should get big league opportunities.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 45.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Signed by the Astros for $450,000 in 2015, Valdez's first four minor league seasons proved undistinguished. After working to stay back on the ball to help him better track pitches and drive the ball to the opposite field, Valdez in 2021 hit a career-high 26 homers, two more than he hit from 2016-19. He followed that with a bonkers performance (.327/.410/.606 with 21 homers in 82 games) for Houston's Double-A and Triple-A teams in 2022 before becoming the lead piece in a deadline deal for catcher Christian Vazquez. Valdez saw his numbers fall with Triple-A Worcester, but the Red Sox added a near big league-ready bat to their 40-man roster.
  
  Scouting Report: Valdez coils with a pronounced crouch and sizable leg kick before exploding into the ball, holding back little while driving balls in the air to all fields, especially against righties. Despite his pre-swing movement, Valdez doesn't have too much swing-and-miss to his game, though his strikeout rate did tick up after the trade. His strength and bat-to-ball skills create the potential for an average hitter with above-average power, though with major questions about his position. A below-average runner, Valdez has limited range at second makes that him a below-average option there, and he doesn't look better at third base or left field.
  
  The Future: Defensive development will determine if Valdez is an up-and-down bat or carves out a stable role as a bat-first platoon contributor off the bench, though there's a chance he could be more. He will open 2023 in Triple-A but should get big league opportunities.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 45.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Signed by the Astros for $450,000 in 2015, Valdez's first four minor league seasons proved undistinguished. After working to stay back on the ball to help him better track pitches and drive the ball to the opposite field, Valdez in 2021 hit a career-high 26 homers, two more than he hit from 2016-19. He followed that with a bonkers performance (.327/.410/.606 with 21 homers in 82 games) for Houston's Double-A and Triple-A teams in 2022 before becoming the lead piece in a deadline deal for catcher Christian Vazquez. Valdez saw his numbers fall with Triple-A Worcester, but the Red Sox added a near big league-ready bat to their 40-man roster.
  
  Scouting Report: Valdez coils with a pronounced crouch and sizable leg kick before exploding into the ball, holding back little while driving balls in the air to all fields, especially against righties. Despite his pre-swing movement, Valdez doesn't have too much swing-and-miss to his game, though his strikeout rate did tick up after the trade. His strength and bat-to-ball skills create the potential for an average hitter with above-average power, though with major questions about his position. A below-average runner, Valdez has limited range at second makes that him a below-average option there, and he doesn't look better at third base or left field.
  
  The Future: Defensive development will determine if Valdez is an up-and-down bat or carves out a stable role as a bat-first platoon contributor off the bench, though there's a chance he could be more. He will open 2023 in Triple-A but should get big league opportunities.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 45.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  August Update: Acquired from the Astros in the Christian Vazquez trade, Valdez has been one of the most productive hitters in the minor leagues this season. He&#39s a bat-first infielder with a good combination of power and contact but major defensive questions. He&#39s almost a major league ready hitter who needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter.
  
  Track Record: Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2015, Valdez has taken a few years to develop, first debuting in the Dominican Summer League in 2016. He spent the 2021 season split between High-A Asheville and Double-A Corpus Christi, taking full advantage of the generous hitting environments while posting the best power numbers of his career. Valdez returned to Corpus Christi to begin 2022.
  
  Scouting Report: Over the last two seasons, Valdez has progressed from an aggressive contact hitter with bat speed-driven raw power to a complete hitter at the plate. He now makes contact at an above-average rate, rarely expands the zone and shows exit velocity data that would rank above-average in the major leagues. He&#39s a tough out that grinds out at-bats, can hit for contact and punish mistakes. While he&#39s progressed into a legitimate offensive prospect there are questions around his long-term defensive home. He logged time at second and third base as a professional but is likely to land at second base long term, where there will be added pressure on his bat to produce.
  
  The Future: Valdez has a bat-first second base profile with a lot of offensive skills to believe in. Valdez will need to hold up his advanced level of performance over the next year to earn a shot at a full-time role at the major league level.