Luis Adan Valbuena... On Twitter: @adan_jome ... His mother, Nely, was the president of his local Little League in Venezuela...Older brother once worked for the Mariners organization ... Originally signed by Mariners scout Emilio Carrasquel.
2017
In 10th big league season and first with the Angels, drove in a career-high 65 RBI ... Finished the season with 22 home runs...Marked second 20-home run season and second-highest total of career (26 HR in 2015)...16 of 22 home runs came after the All-Star break which ranked second on the Club behind Trout's 17 ... Appeared defensively in 59 at third base and 48 at first...Was the first Angels third baseman (min. 50 G) to register a 15 double/20 home run season since Troy Glaus in 2002 ... Hit 100th home run of career Aug. 27…Became the 20th Venezuelan native to hit 100 home runs in career ... Missed first 27 games of the season with a right hamstring strain.
2016
Completed ninth big league season and second with the Astros..Set new career-highs in average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage...Reached the 15 doubles and 10 home run marks for the fourth consecuti ve season...Posted a .267 (20/75) clip and .741 OPS (.341 OBP/.400 SLG) against left -handed pitching but hit 11 of 12 home runs and 13 of 17 doubles vs. righti es...Appeared defensively at fi rst base (8 G), second base (1 G) and third base (81 G)...Made sixth Opening Day roster and third Opening Day start...Went on the D.L. July 29 with a right hamstring injury and missed the remainder of the season.
2015
Set single-season career highs in homers and RBI in what was his first year with Houston...played third base for the majority of the first half of the season until Jed Lowrie came back from a thumb injury, and then mixed in at first base...played 99 games at third base (93 starts) and 31 at first base (27 starts)...ranked fifth among AL third basemen in homers (21), behind Josh Donaldson (38), Manny Machado (34), Kyle Seager (26) and Mike Moustakas (22)...his 25 homers rank tied for first in franchise history among lefties in a single season (tied with Colby Rasmus in 2015)...left-handed hitter batted .247 (79x320) with 15 doubles,20 homers, 45 RBI and an .808 OPS (.327 OBP/.481 SLG) against right-handed pitchers...following the All-Star Break, hit .270 (40x148) with six homers, 20 RBI and an .812 OPS (.359 OBP/.453 SLG)...hit 21 of his homers as a third baseman, becoming the fifth third baseman in club history to record a 20-homer season...also Matt Dominguez (2013), Morgan Ensberg (2003, 2005-06), Vinny Castilla (2001) and Doug Rader (1970, 1972-73)...led the Majors with seven homers vs. Seattle...marked the most homers by an Astros player against a single team since Chris Carter hit seven homers against Oakland in 2014...marked the most homers against the Mariners in a single season since Oakland's Brandon Moss hit seven against the club in 2013...hit .378 (17x45) with six homers, 11 RBI and a 1.226 OPS (.404 OBP/.822 SLG) when putting the first pitch into play...made his fifth career appearance on an Opening Day roster, and his second career Opening Day start (3rd base)...missed three games from July 6-8 with a sprained left big toe...recorded his third multi-homer game of the season (fourth of his career) on June 23 at LAA...set a club record for a third baseman with 19 homers through his first 73 games of a season...previously Morgan Ensberg in 2005 and 2006 (18HR)...ranked tied for second in the AL in homers from Opening Day through June 23 (19 HR)...over his final 15 games of the season, hit.438 (14x32) with four doubles, three homers, seven RBI and a 1.357 OPS (.514 OBP/.844 SLG)...led the AL and ranked second in the Majors in OPS in that span...started at third base in all six of Houston's playoff games,going 3x17 (.176) with a homer, two RBI and four walks...homered off RHP Johnny Cueto in Game 5 of the ALDS at KC.
2014
Had the most productive season of his career with the Cubs, setting career highs in games (149), atbats (478), doubles (33), triples (4), homers (16), RBI (51), walks (65), on-base percentage (.341) and slugging percentage (.435)...ranked inside the top 10 among MLB third basemen in walks (4th), doubles (T-5th), triples (T-5th), slugging (7th), extra-base hits (T-7th) OBP (8th) and homers (T-9th)...his 16 homers ranked tied for fifth among National League third basemen...played 124 games at third base (105 starts), posting a .969 fielding percentage (9E/289TC)...also saw time at second base, playing 21 errorless games (17 starts)...hit .256 (101x395) with 15 homers against right-handed pitchers...also hit .290 (81x279) in night games...ranked 10th in the Majors and fourth in the NL in pitches per plate appearance last season (4.17)...was the only player in the Major Leagues to have two games where he saw 40+ pitches in 2014...his 45 pitches seen on April 2 vs. PIT tied for the most in the Majors with IF Freddie Freeman (June 14 vs. LAA)...spent the entire season in the Majors after making his fourth Opening Day roster...was tied for the Major League lead in homers during Spring Training with six...hit .295 (23x78) with a .389 OBP and .513 slugging percentage in 23 May games...had a career-high tying eight-game hitting streak from May 13-24 (.433, 13x30)...started a 23-game run through June 12 in which he hit .39 (30x77)...tied his career high with three hits in a game eight times (last, Aug. 31 at STL)...on July 10 at CIN, hit a game-winning, two-run triple in the 12th inning that pushed Chicago to a 6-4 win...hit six homers in a 13-game span from Aug. 20-Sept. 1...homered in back-to-back games (Aug.31-Sept. 1 vs. MIL)...reached base safely in a career-high 15 consecutive games from Sept. 9-26... played in 20 games in the Venezuelan Winter League for Cardenales de Lara, batting .247 (18x73) with five homers, 16 RBI and an .855 OPS.
2013
In his second season with Chicago, Luis set a career mark with 12 home runs ... hit .218 (72-for-331) with 15 doubles, one triple, 12 homers and 37 RBI in 108 games ... his 53 walks are a career high and ranked second on the team... His .331 on-base percentage was 113 points higher than his .218 batting average... His 12 home runs surpassed the 10 he hit with Cleveland in 2009 ... in 2012, he hit just four home runs in 265 at-bats with the Cubs... Played 94 games (85 starts) at third base, played six games (five starts) at second base and played one game in left field... Recorded a .967 fielding percentage (7 E/213 TC) at third base... Batted .272 (25-for-92) with a .385 on-base percentage in his first 31 games through May 11 ... hit .197 (47-for-239) with a .310 on-base percentage in his final 77 games of the season... Twice homered in the ninth inning or later in a span of four games, April 22-25... Slugged a two-run home run off Cincinnati's Alfredo Simon in the top of the 13th inning, April 22, to give the Cubs a 4-2 lead in an eventual 5-4 loss... April 25 in Miami, hit a game-winning, ninth inning solo home run to break a 3-3 tie... Hit four home runs in his first 18 games (59 at-bats) after slugging four homers in 90 games (265 at-bats) in all of 2012… hit his fifth homer of the season, April 30 vs. San Diego in his 69th at-bat... Drew a career-high three walks, May 5 vs. the Reds... Tied his career high with three hits in a game three times: May 3 vs. the Reds, May 6 vs. the Rangers and May 30 vs. the White Sox... Departed the game, May 11 in Washington, with a sprained right pinky finger … missed three games before making his return, May 15 vs. Colorado, starting at third base (1-for-4)... Landed on the 15-day disabled list, August 4, with a left oblique strain ... activated, September 1 vs. Philadelphia, and drew as a bases-loaded walk as a pinch-hitter... Hit his career-best 11th homer of the year, September 9 in Cincinnati... Batted .311 (38-for-122) with a .907 OPS in 34 games for Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuela Winter League.
2012
Luis was claimed off waivers from Toronto, April 4, and spent the majority of the season with the Cubs, hitting .219 (58-for-265)
with 20 doubles, four homers and 28 RBI in 90 games...Played 82 games at third base (72 starts), recording a .963 fielding
percentage (7 E/189 TC) ... also played five games (two starts) at
second base.
...Batted .225 (47-for-209) against right-handed pitchers and posted a
.196 average (11-for-56) against lefties.
...On Chicago's Opening Day roster, and was outrighted to Triple-A Iowa,
April 7 ... selected from Iowa, June 14, and was with the major league
club the remainder of the season.
...Belted two three-run homers in a three-game span, June 16 vs. the Red
Sox and June 18 at the White Sox.
...Hit .306 (19-for-62) in 24 August contests ... walked 14 times
compared to 11 strikeouts, contributing to a .484 on-base percentage.
...Was 4-for-12 (.333) with a double and a RBI as a pinch-hitter.
...Tied his career high with three hits three times: June 18 at the White
Sox, August 17 in Cincinnati and August 30 vs. Milwaukee.
...Tied his career high with three runs scored, September 14 vs. Pittsburgh
... also turned the trick, August 9, 2009 with Cleveland against the White
Sox.
...Batted .303 (64-for-211) with 17 doubles, a triple, eight home runs
and 31 RBI in 58 games for Triple-A Iowa.
...In 51 games with Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League,
he batted .306 (56-for-183) with 15 doubles, a triple, six home
runs and 39 RBI ... walked 34 times compared to 33 strikeouts, and
recorded a .414 on-base percentage.
2011
Spent the majority of the season at AAA Columbus...AAA STAR: Was a mid-season and post-season International League All-Star selection and spent four different stints over 17 games at the Major League level with the Indians...Hit .302 (127-420) with 64 runs scored, 22 doubles, 17 HR & 75RBI in 113 games at Triple A...Finished 11th in the International League in average (.302), T-11th in RBI (75), 15th in HR (22) and hits (127) and 13th in OPS (.848)...HANDY MAN: Appeared in 75 games at SS, 15 games at third base, eight games and second base and 11 in left field...Hit in 19 straight games from May 22-June 9 and hit 2 HR with 7 RBI on June 13 at Buffalo...Hit .347 (35-101) in June with six doubles, seven home runs & 24 RBI in 29 games and from August 1st-on with the Clippers he hit .327 (34-104) with 5 HR & 19 RBI in 26 games...Hit .316 (83-263) off RHP (.883 OPS), .328 (64-195) with runners on base, .314 (37-118) with RISP and .362 (17-47) with RISP-2outs...PACK LIGHT: Was with the Indians from May 19-20 (did not appear), July 8-21, August 19-22 and from September 6th through the end of the season...Appeared in 11 games at second base (nine starts), one game at shortstop and two games in left field (one start)...Made his first career start in left field on July 20 at Minnesota...On September 11th at Chicago went 3-5, HR, RBI...Appeared in only six games in September (5 for 11, RBI)...WINTER BALL: Played in the Venezuelan Winter League, posting a .284 average with 13 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 31 RBI in 60 games.
2010
Split the season between Cleveland and Triple-A Columbus and never got on track offensively before rebounding somewhat to finish the season in September...Started season on Indians opening day roster before optioned to AAA Columbus June 24th after hitting .166 (25-151) with 6 2B, 2HR & 14RBI in his first 49 games (.514OPS)...Hit his first career grand slam on April 11 at Detroit off Justin Verlander to record a single-game career high of 4RBI...Was 3-for-42 (.071) in May...Hit .313 (30-96) w/ 8 2B, 3B, 6HR & 20RBI in 25G at Columbus where he appeared in 6 games at second base, 7 games at third base and 10 games at shortstop...Went 5-for-6 w/2 2B, a HR & 3RBI (3RS) on July 24 vs. Pawtucket and hit a pair of HR w/4RS and 5RBI on July 26 vs. Pawtucket...Hit .333 (12-36) off LHP with Columbus w/3HR & 10RBI...Hit .362 (17-47) with runners on base at Triple-A...Recalled for a second and final time on July 28 and spent the remainder of the season with the Indians...Hit .226 (28-124) the second time around with 6 2B & 10RBI (.552OPS) in 42 games...Hit .253 (20-79) in Sept/Oct with 5 2B & 6 RBI in 24 games...Hit safely in 12 of his last 15 games (14-53, .264)...Started in 66 games at second base (71G), 9 games at third (6GS) and 5 games at short (4GS) for Cleveland and made 1 appearance in left field...Had a .989 fielding % (4E, 363TC) at second base...Hit .318(14-44) w/ 1HR and 6RBI off LHP.
2009
Spent most of the season in the big leagues and got better as the season went along in regular infield duty...Spent the first month of the season at AAA Columbus where he hit .321 (25-78) w/15RS, 4 2B, 2 3B, 3HR & 13RBI in 22 games before being recalled on May 2 and spent the remainder of the season at the big league level...At AAA he compiled an OPS of .975 (.436OB/.538SLG) and appeared in 12 games at second, 5 games at third and 6 games at shortstop...Was with the big league club over the last 5 months of the season and hit .250 (92-368) with 25 2B, 10HR & 31 RBI in 103 games (.298OB/.416SLG/.714OPS)...From July 1 thru the end of the season he hit .281 (66-235) with 14 2B, 6HR & 21 RBI in 65 games (.763OPS)...From Sept 22-on over his last 12 games he hit .364 (16-44) w/6 EB hits & 6 RBI (7RS, 1.005OPS)...Made 75 starts at second base (77G), 22 starts at short (28G) and appeared in 1 game at third base...Overall compiled a fielding % of .979 (11E, 512TC) between the three positions, including a .985 mark at second base...Went 3-for-5 with 2HR & 2RBI on June 20 at Chicago-NL, his first career two-homer game...Went 3-for-3 on July 4 vs. Oakland, his second 3-hit game of the season to tie a career-high (had three 3-hit games)...Hit his first career MLB homer on June 7 at Chicago-AL (Colon)...38 of his 92 hits went for extra bases (25 2B, 3 3B, 10HR)...Hit in 8 straight games from August 16-25 (3HR)...His 25 doubles made him the 3rd youngest Indians second basemen to amass 25+ doubles and the youngest since Jerry Browne's 31 in 1989 and his 10HR made him the first Indians rookie second baseman (primary position of 2B) since Jim Baxes in 1959 w/double-digit HR...He finished 2nd among AL rookies in doubles (25) and extra base hits (38), 3rd in runs (52), T4th in HR (10), 4th in slugging % (.416), 6th in hits (92), multi-hit games (23) & RBI (31) ...Hit his 10th HR of the season, his first career lead-off HR, in the final game of the season on Oct 4 at Boston off Buchholz...Appeared in 48 games for Lara in the VZ Winter League after the season.
2008
Valbuena split the 2008 season between Double-A West Tennessee, Triple-A Tacoma and the big leagues with Seattle...He began the season in West Tennessee before being promoted to Tacoma on 6/28, hitting a combined .303 (137-452) with 84 runs scored, 21 doubles, 2 triples, 11 homers and 60 RBI in 128 games between the two stops...He also stole 18 bases and his .303 batting average was 6th best in the Mariners system...He had a 15-game hitting streak in June before his promotion (T6th longest in the Southern Lg)...His combined OPS between the two stops was .813 (.382 OB%/.431SLG%)...The Zulia, Venezuela native then made his big league debut with the Mariners in September, hitting .245 (12-49) with 5 2B, 1RBI and 6 runs scored in 18 games...Made Major League debut on 9/2 at Texas, going 0-1 as a PH...Recorded first ML hit, a single in the 9th inning off Scot Shields, on 9/11 at LA Angels...Recorded first career RBI, while setting a season-high in hits on 9/26 vs. Oakland, going 3-4 with 2 runs scored, 1 double and 1 RBI.
2007
Spent season at West Tennessee (AA)...Recorded season-high 4 hits, 6/6 at Mississippi...On disabled list with a left thumb contusion, 7/1-12...Played for Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League.
2006
Started season with Wisconsin, finishing 2nd on the team with 21SB...Recorded 5 multi-stolen base games, including season-high 3 steals, 5/10 vs. Quad Cities...Promoted to Inland Empire on 7/19.
2005
Started season with Tacoma, appearing in three games...Transferred to Everett on 5/14...Finished 1st in the Northwest League w/12HR, T1st with 51 RBI and 4th with 14 stolen bases...Struck out once over 8.78 plate appearances (37 K, 325 PA), 5th-best in the Northwest League...Hit .529 (9-17) w/5HR and 13 RBI, 8/13-16...Batted .357 (25-70) with RISP...Named Everett's Most Valuable Player by the Seattle Mariners.
2004
Spent second season playing for Aguirre...Led team in average (.361), games (61), at-bats (216), runs scored (44), hits (78), doubles (24) and triples (6)...Named Most Valuable Player in the Venezuelan Summer League.
2003
Played for Aguirre in the Venezuelan Summer League...Batted .228 (38-167) in 50 games...Made 36 starts at 2B and 9 starts in the OF...Recorded a .970 fielding percentage (5 E, 189 TC).
