Sergio Valenzuela
| IP | 1,437.0 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.00 |
| WHIP | 1.527 |
| BB/9 | 3.1 |
| SO/9 | 5.4 |
- Full name Sergio Jose Valenzuela
- Born 09/15/1984 in Hermosillo, SON, Mexico
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Valenzuela's beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Braves didn't bother to protect him on their 40-man roster because they thought his stuff was average and he posted a 7.00 ERA in 2007 while getting his first taste of full-season ball. The Reds pounced on him in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft, however, because their reports gave Valenzuela the chance to have three above-average pitches. They clocked his fastball at 91-96 mph--Atlanta had him at 86-93--and graded his changeup as plus and his slider as having the potential to get to that level. A pitcher with that arsenal seemingly would have to have more success than Valenzuela, whose stats remained uninspiring in the Mexican Pacific League this winter (3.78 ERA, 12-13 K-BB ratio in 33 innings). The Braves weren't upset at all to lose Valenzuela, while Cincinnati thinks he can develop into a big league starter. The Reds will stash him in their bullpen this season, as they have to keep him on their 25-man roster. Before they could send him to the minors, he'd have to clear waivers and be offered back to Atlanta for half of the $50,000 draft price.
