Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: Pitcher Frank Valera

Frank Valera is an interesting prospect who pitched for the DSL Marlins in 2018.

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 246 of 286.

Frank Alberto Valera is a 6’3″, 210 lb. right-handed batting and throwing pitcher from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, population 185,255. The city has produced 98 major leaguers to date, including Alfonso Soriano, Fernando Tatis, and Sammy Sosa.

Valera was born on October 2nd, 1999, and signed his first professional deal with the Miami Marlins through free agency on July 3rd, 2017, before his 18th birthday. After he turned 18, he made his professional debut with the rookie-level DSL Marlins, in the Dominican Summer League.

Players who begin their careers in the Dominican Summer League are for the most part, low-risk, high-reward prospects. Some players who got their start in the DSL for the Miami Marlins are Jarlin Garcia, Jose Urena, and Miguel Cabrera.

Valera held opposing hitters to a .231/.309/.336 slashline in 12 games for the DSL Marlins, including four starts. On June 16th, he earned his first victory of the year in a 4-3 victory over the DSL Red Sox1, pitching three relief innings of one-hit ball, striking out six. On July 23rd, he pitched a complete game loss, striking out seven over eight innings and keeping the DSL Braves to four runs in a 4-1 loss. His game resulted in a GameScore of 60, and his complete game was the only one of the season for the DSL Marlins.

Valera pitched a total of 39 1/3 innings for the DSL Marlins, and struck out 35 while walking 17. He faced 165 batters and held them to a 1.271 WHIP. 153 of his 221 pitches were in the strike zone, or 69.2 percent.

Valera seems to have pretty good stuff, but game-information from the DSL suffers in that it’s never on You Tube or anywhere else that I can find. Look for him to join the GCL Marlins in the Florida-based rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2019.

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