Was signed by the Astros as a 21-year-old non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic on March 18, 2015...At 21 years old, Valdez was five years older than most amateur free agent signees from the Dominican Republic...According to Valdez, other teams were skeptical of potential arm issues and were reluctant to take a chance because of his age...Originally a position player, Valdez began pitching at the age of 16 and had interest from scouts within a couple years of his conversion...By the age of 21, Valdez was finally seen by the Astros at a workout staged by an independent trainer in Guayacanes, DR, a small town just west of San Pedro de Macaris...After seeing him throw just a handful of pitches, the Astros invited him to throw at their Dominican Academy and promptly signed him following that tryout...Signed by Astros scouts Oz Ocampo, Tom Shafer, Roman Ocumarez and David Brito...Valdez's signing at the ripe age of 21 was dismissed by most, but for the Astros it signaled a start of a new philosophy in Latin America...Most of the top players in Latin America are signed at the age of 16, but the Astros went against that conventional wisdom and saw older international pitchers as an undervalued demographic...Houston made a concerted effort to scout and sign those pitchers, which has since produced Major Leaguers who were all signed at advanced ages: Ronel Blanco (22), Luis Garcia (20), Cristian Javier (18) and José Urquidy (19)…Fulfilled a childhood promise by funding and help building a church in the Guayacanes community in the Dominican Republic following the 2021 season...At 14 years old, Valdez promised the pastor of his church, Pastor Antonio, that he would make the Major Leagues and return to make needed upgrades to the facility...Valdez continued to make good on that promise by constructing and opening a second church in December 2023, with the new church being built in his hometown of Sabana Grande de Palenque...Added to the Astros' Major League roster in September of 2018...Surpassed five years of service time following the 2024 season, meaning he will be a free agent following the 2025 season.
2024
Was the ace of the staff, leading the team in wins (15) and innings pitched (176.1) while allowing the fewest HR (13) among Astros starters on the season...Posted the lowest single-season WHIP of his career (1.106)…Among AL pitchers on the season, finished first in GB% (60.8), first in opponent GIDP (32) and GIDP/9 (1.63), third in ERA, third in opponent SLG (.323), fourth in opponent OPS (.610), fifth in Pitching WAR (3.9) (source: STATS) and tied for fifth in wins...Posted his best-career home winning percentage and ERA (min. five games), going 9-2 with a 2.53 ERA at Daikin Park in 15 starts...Among AL pitchers, ranked third in home ERA...Also had a career-best .214 opponents' batting average against right-handed hitters, fourth-lowest among qualified AL LHPs...Made his third consecutive Opening Day start...Joined LHP Dallas Keuchel (2015-17) as the second lefty in Astros history to make three consecutive Opening Day starts...Allowed three runs on five hits through 4.2 IP with six walks (tied for career high) and five strikeouts...Had logged 15.2 consecutive scoreless Opening Day innings prior to allowing a run in the top of the fifth...The last Astros pitcher to log at least 15 straight scoreless Opening Day innings was RHP Roy Oswalt (15.0 from 2006-07)…Was placed on the 15-day IL on April 6 due to left elbow soreness...Was activated from the IL on April 27 ahead of his start in Mexico City...Threw 6.0 no-hit innings on June 1 vs. MIN before allowing a leadoff single in the seventh...Threw his lone complete game of the season on June 7 at LAA...Allowed one run on four hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in a 7-1 win...Finished the season as one of 11 AL starters with a complete game...Since 2021, ranks second in the Majors in complete games behind MIA's Sandy Alcantara (10)…On July 26 vs. LAD, threw 6.1 shutout innings to earn his 62nd win, passing Jim Deshaies for fifth all-time in wins in club history by a lefty...Finished the season with 68 career wins, immediately trailing Dallas Keuchel and Mike Hampton (76)…Tossed 8.2 no-hit innings on Aug. 6 at TEX before allowing a two-run homer to SS Corey Seager...The near no-no came just over a year-to-the-date of his first career no-hitter (Aug. 1, 2023 vs. CLE)…Tossed a season-high 107 pitches...Per Elias, was the third pitcher in Astros history to take a no-hit bid through 8.2 innings before being broken up, joining RHP Mike Scott (June 12, 1988) and RHP Larry Dierker (Sept. 13, 1969)…Won his career-high eighth straight decision on Aug. 18 vs. CWS...Threw 7.0 hitless innings against KC on Aug. 30...Was joined by teammate RHP Ronel Blanco and TOR Bowden Francis as the only pitchers in the Majors to log multiple no-hit bids of 7.0 innings this season...Has now logged multiple no-hit bids of seven-plus innings in back-to-back seasons (also, Aug. 1, 2023 vs. CLE and Aug. 25, 2023 at DET)…Is the first pitcher in Astros history to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons and is the first MLB pitcher to do so since RHP Nolan Ryan, who did so each season from 1972-74 (source: Elias)…From July 31 through Sept. 12 vs. OAK, had a streak of 31 consecutive scoreless innings at home...Marked the fifth-longest single-season home scoreless streak in Astros history, and was the longest since a franchise-record 36-inning home scoreless streak from LHP Randy Johnson in 1998 (source: Elias)…On Sept. 24 in his final start of the regular season, pitched the Astros to a 4-3 win over SEA to clinch the AL West Division title...Started Game 1 of the Wild Card Series vs. DET...Allowed three runs on seven hits through 4.1 innings...Was his 16th career postseason start.
2023
Had a fantastic season that included his second straight All-Star selection, his first career no-hitter, two complete-game shutouts and an AL Player of the Week Award...Went 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA (76ER/198IP) and a career-high 200 strikeouts in 31 starts...Finished ninth in AL Cy Young Award voting, giving him a top-10 finish in back-to-back seasons...Among AL starters, ranked second in groundball percentage (55.0), third in innings (198.0), third in opponent batting average (.228), tied for third in home runs per 9.0 IP (0.86), tied for third in quality starts (20), fifth in opponent OPS (.656), seventh in ERA (3.45) and seventh in WHIP (1.113)...The only other Major League pitcher with two shutouts was AL Cy Young Award winner, RHP Gerrit Cole...Tossed the 16th total no-hitter in Astros history on Aug. 1 vs. Cleveland...Was the 15th regular-season no-hitter in Astros history... Was the first Astros no-hitter tossed by a left-handed pitcher... Became the ninth Dominican-born player to throw a no-hitter in Major League history...Faced the minimum of 27 batters, which is the first time that’s been achieved in an Astros no-hitter...Allowed just one baserunner via a walk and struck out seven batters through the nine shutout innings...Was his sixth career complete game and his third complete-game shutout...Needed only 93 pitches to complete the no-hitter... Per Sarah Langs, that ranked as the third-lowest total in a no-hitter since pitch counts started being tracked in 1988... The others were tossed by the Astros RHP Daryl Kile (83) on Sept. 8, 1993 and the Yankees RHP David Cone (88) on July 18, 1999...Went on to win his first career AL Player of the Week Award on Aug. 7 following the no-hit effort...Just four starts after his no-hitter, worked 7.0 hitless innings on Aug. 25 at Detroit, exiting the game with 114 pitches...Became the only pitcher in club history to post two hitless starts of 7.0-plus innings in a single season...Was selected to his second consecutive (and career) All-Star Game in 2023...Did not appear in the contest...Tossed a complete-game shutout on May 21 vs. Oakland...Allowed just four hits and struck out seven batters without issuing a walk...Was the first complete-game shutout by an Astro without allowing a walk since Dallas Keuchel on May 30, 2015 vs. Chicago (AL)...Led the AL with a 2.51 ERA headed into the All-Star Break...Was the first Astros pitcher to lead their league in ERA at the All-Star Break since Roger Clemens in 2005 (1.48 ERA)...Got the Opening Day start for the second straight season... Was the first Astros pitcher to make back-to-back Opening Day starts since Justin Verlander (2018-21)...Was the second Dominican-born pitcher to start Opening Day for the Astros, joining Wandy Rodriguez (2012)...Was the third LHP in Astros history to make back-to-back Opening Days, joining Dallas Keuchel (2015-17) and Dave Roberts (1973-74)...Made three starts in the postseason, going 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA (12ER/12IP).
2022
Dominican lefty had a banner year as the Astros Opening Day starter and All-Star Game winner...won 17 of his 31 starts and topped 200 innings for the first time in his career...led the AL in complete games (3)...Tossed 25 straight quality starts from April 25 to Sept. 18, setting the MLB record for the most consecutive quality starts in a single-season...the streak tied for the second-longest streak in MLB history when including multiple seasons...also extended the Astros record, which was previously held by RHP Mike Scott, who tossed 20 straight quality starts in 1986 Cy Young season...His 26 quality starts this season were the most in the Majors and the most by an Astro since RHP Justin Verlander and RHP Gerrit Cole both had 26 in 2019...Among AL starters this season, he ranked first in quality starts (26), first in innings (201.1), first in home runs per 9.0 ratio (0.49), first in GB% (67.3), second in wins (17), sixth in opponent OPS (.600) and sixth in ERA (2.82)...Struck out a season high 13 hitters in a start on July 3 vs. LAA...was followed by RHP Hector Neris (2K), RHP Rafael Montero (2K) and RHP Ryan Pressly (3K), who combined to strike out 20 hitters in the game...this tied the MLB record for a 9.0-inning game...the Astros became the eighth team in MLB history to accomplish the feat...the 20 strikeouts in a 9.0-inning game was also a franchise record, besting their previous record of 19...Made his first career All-Star roster after being selected to the roster by MLB...was the third pitcher used by the AL squad and pitched a scoreless 3rd inning, earning the win after the AL scored their three runs in the top of the fourth...as expected, got all three of his outs in the 3rd inning on groundouts... induced those from Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Freddie Freeman...made the 39th appearance by an Astros pitcher in the All-Star Game in MLB history and became the first Astros pitcher to earn a win...was also the first Astros pitcher to pitch in the ASG since RHP Justin Verlander tossed 1.0 inning in a start back in 2019...was one of five Astros selected to the 2022 AllStar Game, joining 2B Jose Altuve, DH Yordan Alvarez, RF Kyle Tucker and Verlander...Tossed his first career shutout on Sept. 12 at DET... Valdez’s shutout was the first by an Astros pitcher since RHP Justin Verlander tossed his most recent no-hitter on Sept. 1, 2019 at TOR...Dominated the 2022 Postseason, going 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA...was the only pitcher in the playoffs to record three wins...recorded 33 strikeouts during 25 playoff innings...allowed 5.04 hits per nine innings in playoffs...the Astros went 4-0 when Valdez pitched in playoffs...Finished postseason with back-to-back 6.0IP+, one-run outings in Game 2 and Game 6 of the World Series, including a two-hit performance in Game 6... struck out 18 Phillies in 12.1 WS innings...became the third Astros pitcher ever to make three or more starts of 6.0+ innings while allowing one or fewer runs in a single postseason (others: RHP Charlie Morton, 2017, RHP Gerrit Cole, 2019).
2021
Missed the first 49 games of the season due to a fractured finger, but returned to make 22 starts to complete the season...after his return on May 28, he ranked tied for first in the AL in wins (11), while ranking third in innings pitched (134.2) and fourth in ERA (3.14)...Posted the highest ground ball percentage (70.3%) in the Majors (min. 130IP)...ranked immediately ahead of RHP Logan Webb (61.2)...Allowed just 12 homers in his 134.2 innings pitched this season for a 0.80 home runs per 9.0 ratio, the third-lowest in the AL (min. 130 IP)...Had an up and down postseason combining for a 1-1 record and a 7.78 ERA (17ER/19.2IP) in five starts...started Game 2 of the DS vs. CWS (4ER/4.1IP), Game 1 of the LCS vs. BOS (2ER/2.2IP) and Game 5 of the LCS at BOS (1ER/8IP)...In Game 5 of the ALCS, became just the fourth Astros pitcher since 2000 to toss 8.0-plus innings in a postseason game, joining RHP Gerrit Cole (8IP, 2019 ALDS Game 5), RHP Justin Verlander (9IP, 2017 ALCS Game 2) and RHP Brandon Backe (8IP, 2004 NLCS Game 5)...Had a couple rough outings in the World Series, starting Game 1 vs. ATL (5ER/2IP) and Game 5 at ATL (5ER/2.2IP).
2020
Had a breakout season, ranking as one of the top pitchers in the AL...was named the Astros Pitcher of the Year by the Houston Chapter of the BBWAA...Among AL pitchers, ranked second in home runs per 9.0 innings (0.64), fifth in walks per 9.0 innings (2.04, 16BB), sixth in innings pitched (70.2), eighth in strikeouts (76), and eighth in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (9.68)...led the Majors in groundball to flyball ratio (3.56) and groundball rate (60%)...generated 114 ground balls, the most in the AL...ranked seventh in MLB and third in the AL in FIP, per Stats Inc. (2.83)...Was one of baseball’s most efficient pitchers, as he ranked fourth in the Majors in fewest pitches per inning (14.8), behind Adam Wainwright (14.2), Kyle Hendricks (14.3), and Kenta Maeda (14.8)...Averaged 2,982 RPMs on his curveball, giving him the 10th-highest spin rate among all MLB curves...Set career-highs in starts (10), quality starts (6) and strikeouts (76), and tied his career-high in innings pitched (70.2) despite the shortened season...Over his 10 starts, went 5-3 with a 3.92 ERA (28ER/64.1IP) and 68 strikeouts...tossed 6.1 scoreless innings as a reliever (one outing)...Posted a career-best 5.6% walk rate, the fifth-best mark in the Majors, as he walked just 16 of 288 batters faced...posted a 15.6% walk rate in his 2018 rookie season, and a 13.4% walk rate in 2019...Made the Astros OPENING DAY roster for the second consecutive year...started Houston’s fifth game of the season...Tossed 6.1 innings of relief, allowing one unearned run in Houston’s 6-5 extra-innings victory on Aug. 2 at LAA...was the longest relief appearance by an Astros pitcher since Shane Reynolds tossed 7.0 innings of relief on July 17, 1994, at PIT...On Aug. 24 vs. LAA, recorded his first-career double-digit strikeout game, as he fanned 11 Angels hitters in 7.0 innings of work...finished all 11 of his strikeouts with his curveball, the fifth-most that any pitcher has gotten on curveballs in one game since the 2008 season...Was one of the AL’s best pitchers in August, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.85 ERA (7ER/34IP) and 38 strikeouts across five games (four starts)...among AL pitchers in August, ranked third in ERA, seventh in strikeouts and tied for sixth in wins...On Sept. 17 vs. TEX, struck out 11 batters for the second time on the season...became the sixth lefty in Astros history to have multiple 11-strikeout games in the same season, joining Dallas Keuchel (4g in 2015), Wandy Rodriguez (2g in 2011 and 2009), Randy Johnson (6g in 1998), Denny Lemaster (2g in 1969) and Mike Cuellar (3g in 1967, 2g in 1966)...Was dominant in the POSTSEASON, going 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA (5ER/24IP), 10 walks and 26 strikeouts in four games (3 starts)...Made his postseason debut in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series at MIN...earned the win in relief after finishing the game with 5.0 scoreless innings...gave up just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts...became the 13th pitcher in MLB history to finish a postseason game with 5.0+ scoreless relief innings, and the first to do it since Madison Bumgarner ended Game 7 of the 2014 World Series at KC with 5.0 scoreless relief innings...became the first AL pitcher to do this since Pedro Martinez in Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS at CLE...became the fourth pitcher in MLB history finish a game with 5.0+ scoreless frames in his postseason debut, joining Joe Price (1987 NLCS Game 5), George Frazier (1981 ALCS Game 2) and Moe Drabowsky (1966 World Series Game 1)...Pitched Houston to a 5-2 win in Game 2 of the ALDS at Dodger Stadium in what was his first career postseason start...tossed 7.0 innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and one walk with four strikeouts on 103 pitches...became the second Dominican-born pitcher in Astros history to start a postseason game, joining Jose Lima (Game 2 of the 1999 NLDS at ATL)...Started Game 1 of the ALCS at TB...at 26 years, 327 days old, became the third-youngest pitcher in franchise history to start Game 1 of a postseason series...the only two to do so at a younger age were Wade Miller (25 years, 26 days old) in Game 1 of the 2001 NLDS vs. ATL and Brandon Backe (26 years, 191 days old) in Game 1 of the 2004 NLCS at STL...Struck out nine batters in Game 6 of the ALCS at TB, leading Houston to a 7-4 win (1ER/6IP).
2019
Began the season with the Astros, but ended up splitting the season between Houston and Triple A Round Rock...made eight starts with Houston, going 2-4 with a 7.07 ERA (28ER/35.2IP)...in his 18 relief outings, went 2-3 with a 4.63 ERA (18ER/35IP)...started the season on the Astros Opening Day roster for the first time in his career...optioned to Triple A Round Rock on April 11...recalled to Houston on April 21... optioned to Round Rock on June 27...recalled to Houston July 11...optioned to Round Rock on July 16...recalled to Houston on Aug. 25...in six games in April, posted a 2.89 ERA (3ER/9.1IP) with 10 strikeouts...threw a career-high 7.0 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits, while striking out seven batters on June 8 vs. BAL...had a seasonhigh eight strikeouts on June 15 vs. TOR and Aug. 25 vs. LAA...dominated Triple A hitters, posting a 3.25 ERA (16ER/44.1IP) with 69 strikeouts and a .185 opponent batting average in 10 games (seven starts)...recorded three double-digit strikeout games with Round Rock...struck out a career-high 13 batters in 6.2 innings on Aug. 12 at Albuquerque.
2018
Made his Major League debut in August and dazzled over the final two months of the season...generated groundballs at an extremely high rate, posting a 70.3% groundball rate and a 4.27 groundball to flyball ratio... among MLB rookies with at least 30.0 innings pitched, ranked first in groundball rate, second in ERA and sixth in opponent batting average (.175)...was successful as both a starter and a reliever...went 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA (7ER/24.1IP) and 20 strikeouts in his five starts, and 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA (2ER/12.2IP) in three relief appearances... left-handed hitters went just 4x32 (.125) with no extra-base hits against him...began the season at Double A Corpus Christi...was promoted to Triple A Fresno on Aug. 8...was selected to the Major League roster on Aug. 21...made his MLB debut on Aug. 21 at SEA, tossing 4.1 innings of relief...allowed one unearned run on two hits, striking out four while leading the Astros to a 3-2 win...earned his first Major League victory...entered the game in the 2nd inning with two on and two outs and got the Astros out of the jam unscathed...became the fifth pitcher in club history to throw 4.1+ relief innings in a MLB debut, and just the second to do so while recording a win, joining Don Wilson, who threw 6.0 innings and got the win in his debut on Sept. 29, 1966 at CIN...became the second pitcher in Astros history to throw 4.1+ relief innings without allowing an earned run in a Major League debut, joining Joe Musgrove, who went 4.1 scoreless innings his debut on Aug. 2, 2016 vs. TOR...made his first Major League start on Aug. 26 at LAA and tossed 5.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the Astros 3-1 win...got his second Major League victory and first as a starter...became the fifth pitcher in franchise history to earn a win in his first two Major League appearances... also Bill Dawley (1983), Mark Lemongello (1976), J.R. Richard (1971) and Don Wilson (1966-67)...became the first pitcher in Astros history to go 4.0+ innings pitched while allowing one run or fewer in each of his first four career appearances in the Major Leagues...also became the sixth pitcher in MLB history to start a career like this...also Fernando Valenzuela (7g in 1981), Cliff Markle (5g from 1915-16), Kenta Maeda (4g in 2016), Cody Anderson (4g in 2015) and Drew Smyly (4g in 2012)...also became the second pitcher in franchise history to allow two hits or fewer in each of his first two starts in the Majors, joining Taylor Buchholz (2006)...on Sept. 23 vs. LAA, provided the Astros with 6.0 innings of one-run ball, striking out nine in relief of Charlie Morton, who left the game after the 1st with discomfort in his right shoulder...the 6.0 innings and nine strikeouts both marked new career-highs...became the first Astros pitcher to toss at least 6.0 innings in a relief outing since Dave Borkowski on Aug. 15, 2006 vs. CHC...became the first Astros pitcher to strike out nine batters in a relief appearance since Jerry Reuss fanned 10 batters in 7.1 relief innings on Sept. 22, 1972 vs. CIN...24-year-old also became the youngest left-handed pitcher to strike out nine batters in a relief appearance since a 23-yearold Johan Santana struck out nine batters in 4.1 innings of relief innings on Sept. 2, 2002...in 22 combined games (14 starts) between Double A Corpus Christi (20g) and Triple A Fresno (2g), went 6-5 with a 4.11 ERA (47ER/103IP) and 129 strikeouts...prior to his promotion to Triple A, was leading the Double A Corpus Christi Hooks in strikeouts with 120, which also ranked second in the Texas League...was a Double A Texas League Midseason All-Star...named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July after posting a 0.40 ERA (1ER/22.1IP) in four appearances, including three starts...had his best minor league start of the season on July 30 vs. San Antonio, tossing 7.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while punching out 12.
2017
Went a combined 7-8 with a 4.16 ERA (51ER/110.1IP) and 126 strikeouts in 25 games (18 starts) between Double A Corpus Christi (12g) and Class A Advanced Buies Creek (13g)...impressed in five Spring Training games with the Astros as a minor league call-up, striking out seven batters in 7.0 innings...began the season at Buies Creek, where he went 2-3 with a 2.79 ERA (19ER/61.1IP), 29 walks, 73 strikeouts and a .185 opponent batting average in 13 games (9 starts)...his final start at the level was a gem on June 28 vs. Carolina...struck out 11 batters over 8.0 innings of one-run ball, surrendering just three hits...was then moved up to Double A Corpus Christi where he posted a 5-5 record and a 5.88 ERA (32ER/49IP) with 53 strikeouts in 12 games (9 starts)...pitched in the Arizona Fall League in 2017, going 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA (7ER/19.2IP) and 14 strikeouts in six starts for the Mesa Solar Sox.
2016
Pitched at four levels in the Astros system, combining to go 4-5 with a 3.19 ERA (26ER/73.1IP) and 79 strikeouts...began the year at Rookie Level Greeneville...allowed two runs in two starts and 10.2 innings (1.69 ERA), striking out 15...was named the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 27-July 3...threw 6.0 shutout innings on July 2 vs. Kingsport, striking out eight and allowing one hit...moved up to TriCity and went 2-1 with a 3.74 ERA (9ER/21.2IP) and 28 strikeouts in five games (2 starts)...was promoted to Class A Quad Cities and also found success, posting a 3.06 ERA (12ER/35.1IP) and 35 strikeouts with one complete game in six starts...ended the year at Class A Advanced Lancaster, making one start (3ER/5.2IP).
2015
Began his professional career with the Dominican Summer League Astros, going 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA (15ER/36.2IP) and 36 strikeouts in 16 games.
