Valdez, a 27-year-old from the Dominican Republic, began his professional career at age 17. Signed as an International Free Agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers, he made his professional debut in 2017 at just 18 years old.

The right-hander spent five years in the Dodgers’ Minor League system, posting a 3.88 ERA with 202 strikeouts across 195 innings. In 2023, Valdez joined the RailCats for the first time. After a slow start, he became dominant down the stretch—over his final 16 appearances, he struck out 34% of the batters he faced and recorded a 1.26 ERA. That success carried into 2024, when he delivered a 1.14 ERA, held opponents to a .188 batting average, and posted a 1.10 WHIP through his first 23 outings.

Across his two seasons with the RailCats, Valdez has appeared in 73 games, recording a 4.55 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 89 innings. After not pitching in 2025, he now becomes the twenty-third player signed to the RailCats’ 2026 roster.