Framber Valdez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Valdez didn't sign his first pro contract until he was 21, and teams shied away because of concerns about his elbow. Healthy since signing, he has shot from the Dominican Summer League to the majors in a little over three years.
  
  Scouting Report: Valdez is largely a two-pitch lefthander. His plus curveball is good enough to allow him to succeed despite a lack of confidence in his below-average changeup. Valdez attacks hitters with two- and four-seam fastballs at 92-95 mph. His two-seamer has good sink down in the zone, but his above-average fastballs are mainly setting up his 78-82 mph curveball. Valdez's curve has plenty of depth, and he can sweep it across the strike zone thanks to his three-quarter arm slot. He can tighten it or loosen it and throw it in or out of the zone. Valdez nibbled against big league righthanders and will need to either improve his changeup or develop a cutter. His delivery is relatively clean and his control is average.
  
  The Future: Valdez's solid work as a starter late in the 2018 season gives him the opportunity to battle for a job in the 2019 rotation.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #14 prospect in 2018
  When the Astros signed Valdez in 2015, he was the same age as many of the college draftees taken that year. That's positively ancient for a player signing his first contract out of the Dominican Republic, but Valdez has quickly made up for lost time and reached Double-A a little over two years after he signed. Valdez's fastball actually took a step back last season as 92-95 mph downshifted to 92-93 on a consistent basis. But the improvement in his changeup and command made it a fair trade, as the overall quality of his stuff improved. He's relying more on his two-seam fastball, which shows quality sink. His four-seamer has excellent life as well. Valdez's breaking ball is an easy plus pitch. He trusts it no matter the situation. His changeup is still below-average, but it's a good bit further along than it was a year ago. If Valdez isn't going to be forced to move to the bullpen he's going to have to tighten his command and control. He'll head back to Corpus Christi for a second try at Double-A.