Jordany Valdespin: Former Met Who Holds Club Record with Five Pinch Hit HRs in a Single Season (2012 - 2013)
Jordany V. Valdespin was born December 23rd 1987 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. In 2000 the six foot left hand hitter was signed by the New York Mets.
In 2011 at AA Binghamton, Jordany stole 33 bases (6th most in the Eastern league) while batting .297 & hitting 15 HRs. At the end of the season he was promoted to AAA Buffalo.
Defensively, he was a liability with a glove making 35 errors in the infield before getting converted to an outfielder by 2012.
Game Winning HR: On May 7th, in a tied game with the Phillies at Citizen's Bank Park, Valdespin came to bat in the top of the 9th inning, with two on & two outs facing Jonathan Pabelbon.
Pinch Hit HRS: On June 5th in Washington D.C. he hit his second pinch hit HR, a 6th inning
solo shot off the Nat's Jordan Zimmermann. The Mets tied up the game but lost in extra innings.
By July he was seeing more playing time collecting 17 hits with five HRs & ten RBIs getting his season average up to .277.
Mets Record 5th Pinch Hit HR: On July 24 at Citi Field, in a loss to the Nationals, Jordany came to bat in the bottom of the 8th inning facing Ryan Mattheus. He hit his fifth pinch-hit HR of the season setting a new Mets franchise mark.
Walk Off Grand Slam HR: On April 24th Jordany came to bat with the bases loaded & one out in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 3-3 with the Dodgers at Citi Field.
This did not go over well with his teammates, his manager, Mets fans or the opposing team. The
next night he was put in the game as a pinch hitter in the 7th inning with the Mets down 10-1. He was hit by a pitch by the Pirates Bryan Morris. The scenario made it look like manager Terry Collins put him in there, to teach him a lesson.
More Dramas: Valdespin struggled at the plate batting just .188 & was sent down to AAA Las Vegas. At that point he referred to Mets manager Terry Collins using a curse word, demanding to be put on the DL.
In August he was suspended for 50 games testing positive for using a performance enhancing drug. At the end of the season he was non tendered by the Mets.
In 2015 he played just two games for the Marlins at the big-league level.
Jordany began his career as a second baseman & hit well through the ranks of the minors.
In 2009 he hit five HRs batting .279 in just 18 games at A ball Brooklyn. The next season he was at St. Lucie then moved up to AA Binghamton.
In 2009 he hit five HRs batting .279 in just 18 games at A ball Brooklyn. The next season he was at St. Lucie then moved up to AA Binghamton.
Defensively, he was a liability with a glove making 35 errors in the infield before getting converted to an outfielder by 2012.
In 2012 after 17 games at Buffalo he was batting .276 when he was called up after Ronny Cedeno got injured.
MLB Debut: On April 23rd at Citi Field, Valdespin debuted as a pinch hitter going 0-1 in a loss to the San Francisco Giants.
MLB Debut: On April 23rd at Citi Field, Valdespin debuted as a pinch hitter going 0-1 in a loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Valdespin hit a dramatic three run HR that led the Mets to a 5-2 victory. It was his first career hit & HR.
Mets Trivia: The last Met to hit a pinch hit HR for his first career hit was Mike Jacobs (2005).
By the start of June Jordany was struggling, hitting just .091 after 16 games. On June 10th, he drove in two runs in a subway series 5-4 loss.
solo shot off the Nat's Jordan Zimmermann. The Mets tied up the game but lost in extra innings.
Multi-Four RBI Game: On June 12th, he drove in four runs hitting a pair of RBI doubles in an 11-2 win over the Rays at Tampa.
From June 18th to July 8th he hit safely in seven straight games. On July 6th & 7th he HRs in consecutive at bats, the first in the 9th inning of a loss to the Cubs & the second in a win over the Cubs at Citi Field.
Third Pinch Hit HR: On July 17th, Valdespin came to bat as a pinch hitter in the top of the 9th inning with two on & one out with New York down 2-0 to the Nationals. Valdespin hit a three run HR off Tyler Clippard for his third pinch hit HR of the season. The Mets would lose that game in extra innings as well.
Team Record Fourth Pinch Hit HR: On July 20th,with the Mets down 7-4 to the Dodgers at Citi Field, Valdespin hit his fourth pinch hit HR of the season, this one coming off L.A.'s Shawn Tollenson. Valdespin joined Mark Carreon (1989) & Danny Heep (1983) with the club record four pinch hit HRs in a single season.
From that point on he began to slump, hitting just .192 with just one more HR for the rest of the season in 47 games.
Valdespin finished up batting .241 with 8 HRs nine doubles 26 RBIs ten stolen bases, a .286 on base % & .710 OPS. In the outfield he didn't make any errors posting a perfect fielding %, with one assist.
2013: The following season, he was penciled in as a centerfield platoon with Colin Cowgill.
Valdespin finished up batting .241 with 8 HRs nine doubles 26 RBIs ten stolen bases, a .286 on base % & .710 OPS. In the outfield he didn't make any errors posting a perfect fielding %, with one assist.
2013: The following season, he was penciled in as a centerfield platoon with Colin Cowgill.
Valdespin hit a grand slam HR off Josh Wall giving the Mets the walk-off win. It was the first Mets Walk off grand slam since Kevin McReynolds' granny (1991).
Aggravating the Team: The downfall of Jodany Valdespin began in May when he hit a HR against the Pirates at Citi Field, then celebrated even tough the Mets were four runs down.
Aggravating the Team: The downfall of Jodany Valdespin began in May when he hit a HR against the Pirates at Citi Field, then celebrated even tough the Mets were four runs down.
next night he was put in the game as a pinch hitter in the 7th inning with the Mets down 10-1. He was hit by a pitch by the Pirates Bryan Morris. The scenario made it look like manager Terry Collins put him in there, to teach him a lesson.
In August he was suspended for 50 games testing positive for using a performance enhancing drug. At the end of the season he was non tendered by the Mets.
Post Mets Career: In 2014, Jordany signed on with the Miami Marlins playing in 52 games hitting .214.
Career Stats: In his four-year career, Jordany batted .216 with 92 hits 15 HRs & 52 RBIs.
Retirement: From 2015-2024 Jordany played in the Mexican League.
In 2018 he played for the Long Island Ducks in Independent baseball, getting named the league's Player of the Year.