Pat Valaika

Patrick Ryne Valaika (born September 9, 1992) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has played in MLB for the Colorado Rockies.

Pat Valaika
Valaika at Coors Field in 2018
Baltimore Orioles – No. 74
Infielder
Born: (1992-09-09) September 9, 1992
Valencia, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 6, 2016, for the Colorado Rockies
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.230
Home runs25
Runs batted in67
Teams

Career

Amateur

Valaika attended Hart High School in Newhall, California and played college baseball at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the ninth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2]

Minor Leagues

Valaika made his professional debut on July 8, 2013 playing shortstop for the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League going 1 for 4 with an RBI triple.[3] Valaika started the 2014 season with the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League batting .370 over 34 games before being promoted to the Modesto Nuts of the California League. He spent two seasons in the Eastern League, 2015 with the New Britain Rock Cats and 2016 with the Hartford Yard Goats before being promoted to the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Pacific Coast League for the last month of the Minor League Baseball season. During the 2016 season he earned Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star honors and was named a Colorado Rockies Organization All-Star, resulting in a September call-up for the Rockies. Valaika would see time with Isotopes during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons while also getting time in the Major Leagues. During the 2019 season with Albuquerque he was named to the Mid-Season Pacific Coast League All-Star Game.[4]

Colorado Rockies

Valaika was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time on September 6, 2016 [5] and made his Major League Baseball debut the same day pinch running for pinch hitter Tom Murphy in the bottom of the 8th inning during a game against the San Francisco Giants.[6] He made his first defensive appearance on September 8, 2016 replacing third baseman Nolan Arenado in the bottom of the sixth inning, a game where he also got his first plate appearance hitting a double in the bottom of the 8th inning.[7] His first start in the major leagues came against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 24, 2016. [8]

On Mother's Day, 2017, Valaika hit 2 home runs, and on Father's Day that same year he hit a pinch hit home run.

Baltimore Orioles

On October 30, 2019, Valaika was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[9] However, Valaika was designated for assignment by the Orioles on January 10, 2020 to make room for Richard Ureña on their 40-man roster.[10]

On January 16, 2020, Valaika was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.[11] Valaika was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on January 27, following the acquisition of Starling Marte.

On January 30, Valaika was again claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[12] He was outrighted to the Norfolk Tides on February 11. On July 17, 2020 Valaika was assigned to the Orioles Alternate Training Site and on July 23rd the Orioles selected his contract. [13]

In 2020 for the Orioles, Valaika slashed .277/.315/.475 with 8 home runs and 16 RBI.[14]

Personal life

Pat is one of four brothers to play professional baseball. Chris, played professionally from 2006–2015, including time in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, and Chicago Cubs.[15] Nick, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 and spent two years in their farm system with the Bristol Pirates and West Virginia Black Bears.[16] Matt, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and played one season with the Batavia Muckdogs before retiring due to injury.[17]

References
  1. "#19 Pat Valaika - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  2. UCLA shortstop Valaika taken by Rox in Round 9
  3. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2013_07_08_triasx_boiasx_1&t=g_box
  4. http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=642162#/career/R/hitting/2020/MLB
  5. Baseball: Pat Valaika to become sixth former Hart player in MLB this season
  6. https://www.mlb.com/gameday/giants-vs-rockies/2016/09/06/448935#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=448935
  7. https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rockies-vs-padres/2016/09/08/448955#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=448955
  8. https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rockies-vs-dodgers/2016/09/24/449176#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=449176
  9. Patrick Saunders (October 30, 2019). "Tyler Anderson, Chad Bettis' departures highlight Rockies' roster moves". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  10. Todd, Jeff (January 10, 2020). "Orioles Claim Richard Urena, Designate Pat Valaika". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  11. Polishuk, Mark (January 16, 2020). "Diamondbacks Claim Pat Valaika". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  12. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/orioles-claim-pat-valaika-dfa-branden-kline.html
  13. http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=642162#/career/R/hitting/2020/ALL
  14. https://www.mlb.com/player/pat-valaika-642162?stats=career-r-hitting-mlb&year=2020
  15. Valaika brothers make baseball a family affair
  16. Berry, Adam (June 14, 2017). "Valaika joins three brothers as Draft selections". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  17. http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=573215#/career/R/hitting/2010/ALL
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