Rafael Valera - 2016

[goulik]

Second Base-Cedar Rapids

Born Aug. 15, 1994

International Free Agent from Venezuela in 2011

283/378/338

Valera plays 2B, SS, and 3B. He was at the GCL most of last year but had two call ups to Fort Myers Miracle

[goulik]

Copied and pasted from Seths #4 MiLB hitter of the month:

 

"Number 4 - Cedar Rapids – 2B/C Rafael Valera - .239/.365/.437 (.801). 17-71 with six doubles, four triples and eight RBI.

 

Valera came up to Cedar Rapids midway through the 2015 season and ended up being their primary second baseman the remainder of the season. At Instructional league, however, he spent his time working behind the plate. To start this season, Valera has already played second base, third base, left field and catcher. The 21-year-old didn’t hit for average, but he got on base and showed a lot of extra base power. He walked 12 times in the month. He was a triples machine early in the month. He had two in one game."

 

I'm impressed with his 365 OBP when compared to his BA

[goulik]

Valera has 28 innings at both 2nd and 3rd, 34 innings at Catcher and 80 in LF. He has committed 5 errors, 2 in LF, 2 at 3B and one at 2B.

He's hitting 261/366/409 (775) with 9 doubles and 4 triples in 115 at bats. Valera has not hit a professional HR. He has been caught stealing all 3 times he tried to swipe a bag. He has 30K to go with 17BB.

 

I would say by the numbers, he's not dominating low A but at least he is surviving while showing some position flegibility. He already has more triples than in any other season and his slugging is up because of it even if his other stats are similar to past seasons (he is usually much more successful at swiping bases)

[goulik]

Any body have any news about Valeras injury and when he will be back from the DL? Bob, have you seen him in Fort Meyers?

[goulik]

Valera was sent on a rehab assignment to the GCL Twins on June 24th. He got into the game that day and had 4 official at bats with a 1 hit (an RBI double), a walk, 2 strike outs, a stolen base, and a run scored and I have heard nothing since. Maybe he's hanging out with Alex Meyers on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean.

[goulik]

2016 Review

Valera began the year by being aggressively placed in Low A Cedar Rapids. After 115 at bats, he was off to the DL and a one game rehab that ended his season in the GCL. In those 119 At Bats, Valera hit 261/367/412 for a solid 779 OPS. He had 32 K's and 18 BB's.

 

2017 Outlook

After some off season rest and rehab, I would expect to see Valera back in CR for most of the season.