César Valdez #51

César Miguel Valdez...Married to wife, Heidy...The couple has two sons, Diego and Thiago...Was the Top Star at the 2008 California League Mid-Season All-Star Game...Has played winter ball nearly every year of career, including five seasons pitching in the Caribbean Series...Named 2008 Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Year after leading all Arizona minor leaguers in wins (13), and ranked second in ERA (3.14) and strikeouts (140)...In 2008, was named by Baseball America as D-backs #7 prospect and was also named as having the Best Curveball and Best Changeup in the Arizona system...Pitched in Arizona Fall League in 2009...Did not pitch during 2014 regular season, but pitched in the Venezuelan Winter League that offseason...Originally signed by Diamondbacks scout Junior Noboa.

2021

With Orioles, appeared on his first career Opening Day roster after making his MLB debut in 2010...Appeared in a career-high 39 games and recorded a career-high 45 strikeouts...Recorded a career-high eight saves, tied for the most on the team (with Cole Sulser)...Converted six of eight save opportunities in April (11 G), going 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA (12.2 IP - 2 ER), three walks and 13 strikeouts; allowed a run in just three of the outings...Appeared in nine games with Triple-A Norfolk, going 0-1 with a 1.42 ERA (12.2 IP - 2 ER), issuing three walks against 12 strikeouts.

2020

Made his Orioles debut on 8/29 at TOR, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk, and five strikeouts; his first Major League appearance in over three years (8/4/17)...Had his contract selected from the Alternate Training Site at Double-A Bowie on 8/27...First batters went hitless (0-for-8) with one walk against him...Posted a 0.70 WHIP and .143 (7-for-49) opponent batting average...Allowed just three extra-base hits (.224 slugging percentage) in 53 plate appearances...Did not allow an earned run in four road games (9.0 IP, 4 H, BB, 7 K)...Four of his nine appearances were 2.0-or-more innings...Earned his first career save on 9/4 vs. NYY G2 (2.0 IP, H, BB, 3 K)...Earned the win on 8/31 at TOR (2.0 IP, 2 H, R, K); was his first MLB win since 7/25/17 vs. OAK (while with TOR)...Invited to participate in Summer Camp in Baltimore...Made five appearances in Spring Training for the Orioles as a minor league camp invite; struck out nine batters in 7.2 innings of work.

2019

Pitched for Yucatan in the Mexican League and pitched to a career-high 15 wins, while posting a 2.26 ERA (37 ER/147.2 IP) and 122 strikeouts...All 23 of his appearances were starts...Issued only 17 walks in his 147.2 innings of work.

2018

Spent the season in the Mexican League, pitching for Tabasco (7 games) and Yucatan (6 games)...Posted a combined 6-3 record with 60 strikeouts in 66.2 IP.

2017

Started the season with the Oakland Athletics and was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training...Made his A's debut on 4/20 vs. SEA, making the start and working 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts...Each of his next three appearances with the Athletics came in relief...Claimed off waivers by TOR on 5/5...Made his Blue Jays debut on 5/20 at BAL, tossing one shutout inning in relief...Made seven appearances (three starts) for the Blue Jays, going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA (16 ER/21.1 IP) and 16 strikeouts.

2016

Signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros organization on Jan. 12 after spending three seasons in the Mexican League (2012-13, 15) and one year out of baseball (2014)…spent the entire campaign at Triple-A Fresno in his first season with a Major League organization since 2011…was 12-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 30 games (18 starts) with the Grizzlies…led the Pacific Coast League in winning percentage (.923), ranked third in ERA and tied for fourth in wins…walked just 13 batters in 138.1 innings, an average of 0.84 per nine innings…struck out 114 for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 8.77…was 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA over his first 15 games (four starts) through June 5…then went 10-0 with a 2.20 ERA over his final 15 games (14 starts) beginning June 11…allowed a .267 opponents batting average, including .257 (81-for-315) against right-handed hitters compared to .282 (62-for-220) against left-handers…yielded a .235 batting average with runners in scoring position, including .182 with RISP and two outs…five of the eight home runs he allowed were solo shots…11 of his first 12 appearances came in relief…17 of his final 18 outings were starting assignments…was 11-1 with a 3.47 ERA and .276 opponents batting average in his 18 starts, 1-0 with a 1.25 ERA and .213 opponents average in 12 relief appearances… allowed 4-of-10 (40.0%) inherited runners to score…compiled a 7-1 record and a 2.65 ERA in 18 games at home and was 5-0 and a 3.88 ERA in 12 games on the road…the Grizzlies were 12-5 (.706) in his starting assignments (one tie)…walked two batters or fewer in each of his 18 starts and allowed one run or fewer 10 times…tossed more than one inning in eight of his 12 appearances.

2010

Spent majority of season with Reno (Diamondbacks' AAA) while also seeing first action in big leagues...Made each of his first 12 appearances from the starting rotation with the Aces...Tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in season debut, but received a no-decision on 4/9 vs. Fresno...Allowed a season-high tying 10 hits in next start while also suffering the loss on 4/14 vs. Salt Lake City...Struck out eight batters in 6.0 innings of work while picking up first win on 4/19 at Sacramento...Was recalled by Arizona on 5/3...Started and won Major League debut that night at Houston; allowed one run in 5.0 innings while also striking out two batters...Was roughed up for seven runs in 4.0 innings while making second and final start on 5/8 vs. Milwaukee; also whiffed a career-high seven batters in the loss...Allowed a pair of runs in 1.2 innings while making first big league relief appearance on 5/16 at Atlanta...Allowed five runs in 0.2ip while making final appearance with Arizona on 6/10 vs. Atlanta...Was optioned back to Reno for remainder of season on 6/16...Tossed 3.0 innings in first game back with Reno on 6/19 at Fresno...Went 0-3 over a four-start stretch before tossing 7.0 scoreless innings in win vs. Fresno on 7/25...Made first of two relief appearances on 7/30...Whiffed a season-high nine batters in 6.0 scoreless innings while beating Nashville on 8/4...Was designated for assignment on 9/13 and outrighted to the minor leagues on 9/16...Went 3-2 with a 4.17 ERA (41.0ip/19er) in 10 games (eight starts) for Tigres de Licey in the Dominican Winter League.

2009

In his first season at Triple-A Reno, went 7-6 with a 4.78 ERA in 19 games (18 starts)...In 9 road games, went 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA (17 ER in 50.0 IP)...in 10 home games, went 3-3 with a 6.65 ERA (34 ER in 46.0 IP)...On May 29 @ Salt Lake, tossed 8.0 shutout frames, allowing 2 hits and 1 walk with 6 strikeouts in a 4-0 win...On June 8 @ Portland, worked 7.0 scoreless innings with 5 hits allowed and 3 strikeouts in a 3-0 victory...Over 11 games (10 starts) in May-June, went 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA (23 ER in 64.0 IP)...Following the season, made 9 relief appearances for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League.

2008

Named the D-backs' minor league Pitcher of the Year after tying for first among all D-backs minor leaguers in wins (13) and ranking second in ERA (3.14) and strikeouts (140)...Named to the California League regular season All-Star team....tied for sixth in the league in wins (10)...Began season with Visalia (A) and won his first three starts of the season, including a season-high 10-strikeout performance on April 16 at Inland Empire...Tossed a complete-game shutout on June 4 vs. San Jose, allowing five hits and striking out four...Promoted to Mobile (AA) on June 25...made his debut for the BayBears on June 28 vs. Montgomery, allowing one unearned run and three hits with four strikeouts in 2.2 relief innings...Earned his first AA victory on July 25 at Jacksonville, tying his season-high with 10 strikeouts in and allowing four hits and three walks in 7.0 scoreless innings.