José Valverde

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**José Valverde**

Houston Astros — No. 47
Closer
Born: July 24, 1979 (1979-07-24) (age 28) San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
June 1, 2003 for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Selected MLB statistics (through May 24, 2008)
Win-Loss	13-15
Saves	113
Earned run average	3.37
Strikeouts	363
Teams
Arizona Diamondbacks (2003-2007) Houston Astros (2008-present)

José Rafael Valverde (born July 24, 1979 in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic) is a pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros. His nickname is Papa Grande or Big Papa.

He throws both 2 and 4 seam fastballs, splitter, and a slider.

Valverde made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 to help out the injury plagued Diamondbacks, joining Brandon Webb and Andrew Good after injuries to Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling left the team out of contention.

Although he had been the Diamondbacks' closer since replacing Brian Bruney in 2005, trouble on the mound in the month of June 2006 forced management to give the role to Jorge Julio. Valverde regained the role after spending some time with the Diamondbacks' AAA affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders. He returned to the closer role in early September (as Julio became too inconsistent) and pitched well in his return. Valverde finished the 2006 season with a record of 2 wins, 3 losses, an ERA of 5.84 and 18 saves.

On June 23, 2007, Valverde passed Matt Mantei as the Diamondbacks all-time saves leader, with his 75th, a perfect ninth against the Baltimore Orioles.

Valverde made the 2007 MLB All-Star Game as a closer for Arizona.

Until he was traded during the 2007 offseason, Valverde was the Diamondbacks' closer, and led all of Major League Baseball in Saves (47 of 54) during the 2007 Regular Season. He has never started a professional game.

When José enters into the game, the song "Big Poppa" by Notorious B.I.G. is played. Because many children and youth attend his games the words are not played.

On September 25, 2007, Valverde was named as one of 10 finalist for the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award."

On December 14, 2007, Valverde was traded to the Houston Astros for pitchers Chad Qualls, Juan Gutiérrez and IF/OF Chris Burke.

[edit] Personal

Born in El Seibo, Dominican Republic, he stands 6'4" tall and weighs 255 lbs. He has a wife and a newborn girl.

During Game 3 of the 2007 NLDS, Ron Santo referred to Valverde as a "Hot Dog with Mustard".

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube

Preceded by Trevor Hoffman	National League Saves Champion 2007	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Trevor Hoffman	National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year 2007	Succeeded by incumbent