Jose Valdez

Signed by the Tigers in 2009, Valdez spent a few years in the Dominican Leagues before finally joining Detroit’s organization in 2012. After a strong showing in the lower levels of the minors in 2013, Valdez received his first taste of Double-A hitters last year. The 25-year-old righty made 47 relief appearances for Double-A Erie, finishing 2-3 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 18 saves in 57 innings. He rang up 10.4 strikeouts per nine, and while his 4.1 BB/9 is much worse than where he needs to be, it was a marked improvement from the 6.2 BB/9 average he achieved the previous season. Valdez’s fastball is regularly clocked in the mid-to-high 90s. He mixes in an effective slider and has been working on improving his changeup the past couple seasons. He’ll need to continue honing his control in 2015, while likely seeing his first action at Triple-A Toledo. If Valdez can limit his free passes more, he could work his way into Detroit’s bullpen plans for 2016, or even into the conversation for a late-season audition this year.