Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Done for season after surgery
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Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Valdez recently underwent season-ending surgery on his dislocated left shoulder, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Tomczyk estimated that Valdez would require about six months of recovery time, so the 26-year-old utility man should be back to full strength or close to it for spring training. Before being shut down with what was initially labeled as an inflamed left shoulder before it was determined he suffered a dislocation, Valdez played in 31 games for the Pirates and slashed .209/.294/.363 with two home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs across 102 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Pirates transferred Valdez (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The transaction clears room on the 40-man roster for waiver pickup Michael Helman and ensures that Valdez won't be available for the big club until around the All-Star break. The Pirates initially deactivated Valdez on May 9 due to left shoulder inflammation, but his move to the 60-day IL could suggest that he's dealing with a more significant injury. Before getting injured, Valdez had been seeing regular reps at first base, but playing time could be difficult to come by for him once he's activated since Spencer Horwitz (wrist) is poised to beat him back from the IL.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Out with shoulder issue
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The Pirates placed Valdez on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 8, due to left shoulder inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
It's unclear when exactly the injury first surfaced for Valdez, but he's gone 2-for-13 across his past four contests. The Pirates are now down another option at first base, with Valdez joining Spencer Horwitz (wrist) and Endy Rodriguez (finger) on the shelf. Ji Hwan Bae was called up by Pittsburgh in a corresponding move, though it's likely to be Matt Gorski that sees a bump in playing time.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Sitting vs. southpaw
Rotowire
Valdez is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Cubs on Wednesday.
With the Cubs sending southpaw Matthew Boyd to the hill, Valdez will begin Wednesday's game in the dugout while Matt Gorski starts at first base and bats sixth. Valdez is slashing .219/.324/.422 with seven runs scored, two home runs and 11 RBI over 74 plate appearances this season.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Appears as pinch hitter
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Valdez (shoulder) went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored Sunday against the Guardians.
Valdez was out of the starting lineup after suffering a minor shoulder injury Saturday, though he managed to enter the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. That suggests Valdez should avoid a stint on the injured list, but his status will likely remain unclear until the Pirates retake the field Tuesday.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Shoulder issue minor
Rotowire
GM Ben Cherington said Valdez's shoulder injury is "relatively minor" and that the infielder could be available off the bench for Sunday's game versus the Guardians, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old suffered the injury in the ninth inning of Saturday's contest as he slid into third base on a triple, and he was tagged out when he took his hand off the base to ask the umpire for time. Valdez has been a quality contributor early on for the Pirates this year with a .797 OPS and nine RBI in 53 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Drives in three from cleanup spot
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Valdez went 2-for-2 with two walks, a double, three RBI and a run scored Monday against the Nationals.
Valdez has bounced around the order, briefly serving as the Pirates' leadoff hitter before getting a shot at cleanup for the first time Monday. He delivered a two-run single in the fifth frame, his second extra-base hit in his last three games. Valdez has been a regular against right-handed pitching while playing first and second base, and his playing time could become more secure with Endy Rodriguez (finger) expected to hit the injured list.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Getting shot at leadoff spot
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Valdez is starting at second base and hitting leadoff in Friday's contest against the Reds.
Valdez becomes the sixth different leadoff hitter the Pirates have had in their first 14 games this season. The 26-year-old is also making his first start at second base for Pittsburgh, as each of his first five starts had all been at first base.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: DFA'd by Boston
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The Red Sox designated Valdez for assignment Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Following the acquisition of Carlos Narvaez from the Yankees, Valdez will end up as the odd man out of a spot on Boston's 40-man roster. The 25-year-old utility man slashed just .214/.270/.363 in 223 big-league plate appearances last season, though his defensive versatility could prompt another team to take him in off waivers.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Gets called up
Rotowire
The Red Sox recalled Valdez from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.
He'll be one of two September call-ups for Boston, with right-handed reliever Chase Shugart also getting moved up from Triple-A. Over his 189 plate appearances at the big-league level this season, Valdez has slashed .224/.282/.400 with six home runs and one stolen base. Though he's not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Valdez could push for playing time in the middle infield while David Hamilton (finger) is on the injured list.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Set to be called up Sunday
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The Red Sox are expected to recall Valdez from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Rosters expand to 28 players Sunday, and Boston is slated to add Valdez and right-hander Chase Shugart. Valdez has appeared in 60 major-league games this season, posting a .224/.282/.400 slash line with six home runs and 27 RBI across 189 plate appearances. His addition to the expanded roster boosts the team's infield depth with David Hamilton going on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a left index finger fracture.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Sent down to minors
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The Red Sox optioned Valdez to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Valdez had been seeing a good number of reps at second base, but the Red Sox have elected to replace him with the more versatile and right-handed hitting Jamie Westbrook. With Valdez now in the minors, David Hamilton's playing time should be on the upswing.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Homers, scores three times in win
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Valdez went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three runs scored in a 7-3 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Valdez hit a solo home run off Kevin Gausman in the fourth inning, walked and scored in the sixth then singled and scored in the eighth. Valdez has been hot in June, hitting .341 with 10 extra-base hits and 14 RBI in 44 at-bats. He rarely plays against left-handed pitchers, going 0-for-20 against them on the season, but he is hitting a respectable .252 with six homers and 25 RBI in 115 at-bats against righties.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Idle versus left-hander
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Valdez will sit Saturday versus the Yankees.
Valdez will take a seat as the Red Sox face left-hander Carlos Rodon. Jamie Westbrook will enter the lineup at second base, batting seventh against New York.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Not in Tuesday's lineup
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Valdez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
The 25-year-old is expected to serve as Boston's primary second baseman against right-handing pitching due to Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) and Romy Gonzalez (hamstring) being sidelined, but Valdez will sit Tuesday as lefty Max Fried takes the mound for Atlanta.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Huge day against Detroit
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Valdez went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, three runs scored and three RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Tigers.
Getting the start at DH and batting fifth, Valdez tormented Matt Olson and took him deep in the second and sixth innings, adding a two-bagger in between for good measure. It was the 25-year-old infielder's first start since being called back up from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, but with Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) headed back to the IL after leaving Saturday's game early, the path is clear for Valdez to see regular action at second base for at least the next couple weeks, perhaps on the strong side of a platoon with Romy Gonzalez. Valdez is batting just .179 (17-for-95) in the majors this year, but he's having a breakout season in the power department, slugging four homers in 31 games for Boston and adding six in 20 games for Worcester.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Joining taxi squad
Rotowire
Valdez joined the Red Sox in Baltimore but hasn't been officially recalled from Triple-A Worcester, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Outfielder/designated hitter Tyler O'Neill (knee) is back in Boston to undergo imaging, so Valdez will be part of the taxi squad for now while the Red Sox wait and see whether O'Neill requires a stint on the 10-day injured list. The 25-year-old Valdez has been playing first base and third base in addition to his familiar spot at second base while at Worcester, and is slashing .230/.360/.527 with six home runs and three steals in 20 games. He had a .452 OPS in 28 contests earlier this season with Boston.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: In Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Valdez (thumb) will start at second base and bat seventh in Monday's game versus the Guardians.
Valdez didn't play Sunday after exiting Saturday's contest with a bruised left thumb, although he might not have been in the lineup, anyway, since they were facing a lefty. Either way, he's back in there Monday against Xzavion Curry and the Guardians.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Retreats to bench Sunday
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Valdez (thumb) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
After exiting Saturday's 7-2 win early with a bruised left thumb, Valdez will hit the bench for the series finale. It's unclear whether the injury is actually keeping him out of the lineup, as the lefty-hitting Valdez likely would have been on the bench anyway with a southpaw (Tyler Anderson) on the mound for the Halos. In any case, Pablo Reyes will fill in for Valdez at the keystone.
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Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez: Suffers bruised thumb
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Valdez left Saturday's game against the Angels due to a left thumb contusion, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Miguel Sano fell on Valdez's left hand while attempting to tag him out during the sixth inning, but Valdez appears to have escaped the incident with minimal damage. It's still possible the Red Sox hold him out of the lineup for a few days in order to allow his thumb to properly heal, though an IL stint seems unlikely at this point.
