After productive 2008 seasons, Marte and Valdez Promoted
Published on November 21, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
With Major League Baseball's Rule 5 Draft looming on December 11, the Arizona Diamondbacks included six new names to their 40-man roster on Thursday, providing protection from those players being acquired by other clubs. Among the additions are BayBear pitchers Jose Marte and Cesar Valdez, who both excelled in their roles within the organization throughout the 2008 season.
Marte was a rookie in the Arizona system entering the '08 campaign, having been dealt from the Texas Rangers in exchange for pitcher Dustin Nippert. Beginning the season in Visalia, Marte was strong with a 1-0 record and 1.93 ERA. Following his move to the BayBears, Marte settled into the closer's spot and saved seven ballgames while posting a 4-2 record.
Valdez went from virtual unknown to one of the top pitchers in the D-backs' organization over the course of 2008. As a California League All-Star, Valdez won 10 games and put together a solid 2.53 ERA for Visalia. With the BayBears, Valdez continued his dominance with a 10-strikeout performance of Jacksonville on July 25. He ended up 3-5 in a BayBear uniform with a 4.06 ERA and eventually was named as the Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Along with Marte and Valdez, there are now seven former BayBears on Arizona's 40-man including Leo Rosales, who pitched for the BayBears while they were a San Diego farm team, Max Scherzer, Esmerling Vasquez, Mark Reynolds and Justin Upton.
The 2009 BayBears take the field at Hank Aaron Stadium on April 14 against the Carolina Mudcats. For more information, call (251) 479-BEAR or log on to www.mobilebaybears.com.
Southern League Stories from November 21, 2008
- After productive 2008 seasons, Marte and Valdez Promoted - Mobile BayBears
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