José Valverde

José Valverde
Valverde pitching for the Detroit Tigers in 2011
Relief pitcher
Born: (1978-03-24) March 24, 1978 (age 38) San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 1, 2003, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Last MLB appearance
May 26, 2014, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	27–33
Earned run average	3.27
Strikeouts	692
Saves	288
Teams
Arizona Diamondbacks (2003–2007) Houston Astros (2008–2009) Detroit Tigers (2010–2013) New York Mets (2014)
Career highlights and awards
3× All-Star (2007, 2010, 2011) 2× Rolaids Relief Man Award (2007, 2011) Delivery Man of the Year (2011) 3× Saves leader (2007, 2008, 2011)

José Rafael Valverde (born March 24, 1978) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, and New York Mets over a 12-year MLB career. He is nicknamed "Papa Grande."

Valverde made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 to help out when Arizona Diamondbacks closer Matt Mantei was injured. He was named the National League Player of the Week on June 23, 2003. For the season, he finished with 10 saves in 54 appearances. His ERA finished at 2.15 with 71 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched.

Injured for most of the 2004 season, Valverde managed to appear in only 29 games.

He gained the Diamondbacks closer role after replacing Brian Bruney in 2005. He ended the season with a 2.44 ERA and 15 saves in 61 games.

Valverde had some troubles in June 2006, and management sent him to the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders. He returned to the closer role in early September and pitched well in his return. Valverde finished the 2006 season with a record of two wins, three 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) during the 2007 regular season.