Back on August 7th, the Philadelphia Phillies traded right-handed pitcher Roberto Hernandez to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two players to be named later. One of those players was named today: infielder Jesmuel Valentin. Here's a report.
Jesmuel Valentin, 2B: The Dodgers drafted Valentin in the supplemental first round, 51st overall, in the 2012 draft from high school in Puerto Rico. A graduate of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Jesmuel is the son of former major leaguer Jose Valentin. He has spent 2014 with Great Lakes in the Low-A Midwest League and has performed reasonably well, hitting .282/.352/.433 with 22 doubles, seven homers, 24 steals and 38/72 BB/K ratio in 459 plate appearances.
More from our team sites
Valentin is a 5-9, 180 pound switch-hitter born May 12, 1994. He began his career as a shortstop but has settled in at second base, where his mediocre arm plays better. He's otherwise sound fundamentally, with better-than-average range and good instincts. Offensively, Valentin lacks power at this point and will likely never be a big home run hitter, but he makes contact, has shown some pop to the gaps this year, and has a fair eye for the strike zone. He was over-matched in his first Low-A trial in 2012 but has been more effective this season and is young enough at age 20 for the improvement to be real.
ANALYSIS: Valentin isn't an outstanding prospect at this point but he's not just some guy, either. He has a quality glove at second base, major league bloodlines, and is still young enough to improve a great deal as a hitter. The full trade can't be fully evaluated until we know who the other prospect is, but getting Valentin is a good start for the Phillies.
Connect with Minor League Ball