Prospect Focus: Jordany Valdespin

Splits courtesy www.minorleaguesplits.com

Valdespin is a lefty batter

The Mets signed Valdespin as an 18 year old during the 2007 Internation Free Agent signing period, and assigned him to their DSL team that summer, where he hit .245/.369/.338/.707, 34 for 139, 23 runs, 4 2b, 3 3b, HR, 16 RBI, 24/26 BB/K, 8/12 SBs, with a .187 K rate, and a corresponding .9230 BB/K ratio.

The next summer, the Mets sent Valdespin stateside to the rookie level Gulf Coast Mets, where he hit .284/.319/.440/.760, 38 for 134, 23 runs, 6 2b, 3 3b, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 7/10 BB/K, 9/11 SBs, with a .074 K rate, and a .7000 BB/K. Against lefties, he hit just .263/.263/.316/.579 (5 for 19, 2b). Against RHP, he hit .267/.313/.429/.742 (28 for 105, 2 2b, 3 3b, 3 HR, 7/7 BB/K).

For the 2009 season, the Mets decided to jump Valdespin to Savannah, despite rather pedestrian numbers in the GCL, and early on, he justified that decision in a HUGE way, getting off to an unbelieveable start, with a .385/.406/.615/1.021 line in April, until he was suspended for conduct deterimental to the team. Upon his return, he middled around for 16 games, but over his last 5 games, he is once again freakishly hot (11 for 22, 5 2b, RBI, 1/7 BB/K, 2 SBs). Overall this season, as of May 31st (before the game today), Valdespin is hitting .313/.358/.463/.821, 46 for 147, 29 runs, 9 2b, 2 3b, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 11/31 BB/K, 7/9 SBs, with a .211 K rate, and a corresponding .3548 BB/K ratio.

Valdespin has improved markedly against LHP this year, he's hitting .306/.390/.361/.751 against them this year (11 for 36, 6 runs, 3b, 4 RBI, 5/8 BB/K, SB, .222 K rate, .6250 BB/K ratio), while against RHP, he's hitting .315/.347/.495/.843 (35 for 111, 23 runs, 9 2b, 3b, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 6/23 BB/K, 6/8 SBs, .207 K rate, .2608 BB/K ratio).

UPDATE SEASON END 2009: Valdespin toured a good chunk of the Mets minor league system this year, going from Savannah to the Dominican to the GCL to Brooklyn, and hit a combined .299/.354/.436/.789 (79 for 264, 40 runs, 12 2b, 6 3b, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 20/52 BB/K, 13/19 SBs), with a .3846 BB/K ratio and a very good .197 K rate. I am going to cite his splits for just Savannah and Brooklyn combined, as his sample sizes with the DSL and GCL Mets are way too small (and ridiculously skew the numbers).

Valdespin hit .317/.397/.367/.764 (19 for 60, 9 runs, 2b, 3b, 4 RBI, 7/15 BB/K, 4/7 SBs), with a .4667 BB/K ratio and a .250 K rate against lefties, showing a marked improvement over his numbers from 2008. Against righties, he hit .306/.341/.488/.829 (49 for 160, 31 runs, 11 2b, 3 3b, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 9/33 BB/K, 7/9 SBs), with a .2727 BB/K ratio, and a good .206 K rate.

THE FUTURE: Valdespin, disciplinary issues aside, had a pretty good first 'full' season, and should be opening the 2010 season in St. Lucie at 2b. He showed off a very good contact stroke in Savannah when he was in a groove and playing everyday, so it will be interesting to see what he can do when he's not being disciplined for being a complete retard (hopefully).