Franco Valdes Biography

2009
• Had a strong NCAA tournament, hitting .342 with team-high nine RBI and six extra-base hits
• Ended season on career-best 12-game hit streak, including all nine games of NCAA tournament
• Started and caught all nine games of NCAAs; caught every inning during the tournament
• Hit .333 in College World Series
• Went 3-for-5 with home run, double, two RBI in CWS opener vs. LSU (6/13)
• Was 3-for-12 in Oxford Super Regional, but all three hits were run-scorers
• Named Most Outstanding Player of Irvine Regional; went 5-for-11 (.455) in regional
• Had key two-run single in first win over UC Irvine, then had two run-scoring hits (double, triple) in championship game vs. UCI
• Named to 2009 ACC All-Tournament Team (five RBI, four runs)
• Went hitless in ACC tournament opener, then was 4-for-9 in last three games
• Hit go-ahead two-run double in seventh inning of Duke win at ACCs (5/23)
• Hit long three-run opposite-field home run at Wake Forest March 8
• Drove in three runs in win over Florida State (3/13)
• Had three hits, two runs in 9-4 win over Miami (3/20)
• Hit grand slam in second inning vs. Maryland (4/5)
• Swatted game-tying solo home run in ninth inning at Virginia Tech (5/14); went 3-for-7 in VT series

2008
• Started last 27 ACC games at C (28 of 30 total)
• Second on team and ninth in ACC in sacrifice bunts (8)
• Threw out 17-of-47 potential base stealers (36.2 percent)
• Had four straight two-hit games from May 13-17
• 6-for-12 in Georgia Tech series (5/15-17)
• Homered, drove in two vs. Georgia Tech (5/16)
• Hit first career triple vs. Coastal Carolina (4/15)
• Two hits in Friday and Sunday games at Maryland
• Had career-best three-hit, four RBI effort in win at Duke (3/15)
• Played with Keene Swamp Bats of New England Collegiate Baseball League

2007 (at Broward CC)
• Played at Broward Community College (Miami, Fla.) his freshman year
• Coached by Bob Deutschman

MONSIGNOR EDWARD PACE HIGH SCHOOL
• Selected in the 15th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by Detroit
• Hit .420 as senior with 7 home runs, 59 RBI, .999 fielding percentage at Monsignor Edward Pace H.S.
• Named second-team All-Dade County his senior year
• Earned honorable mention All-Dade County honors his junior season
• Team won state championship in 2006
• Member of National Honor Society

PERSONAL
• Full name is Franco Xavier Valdes
• Parents are Francisco Valdes and Adela Arango
• Has a brother, Frank and sister, Giselle. He produces music for his sister, who is a singer.
• Majoring in Spanish and minoring in urban planning

CAREER STATISTICS