Valente Bellozo #56

Signed a professional contract with the Astros in 2017 for $10,000...Credits his stability and success to his sports psychologist, former big leaguer Freddy Sandoval...Enjoys spending time with his family and playing video games during his off days...Favorite movies are the Harry Potter series.

2024

Was acquired by Miami on April 6 along with cash considerations from Houston in exchange for INF Jacob Amaya...Started the season at Double-A Pensacola, going 2-2 with a 4.60 ERA (16 ER/31.1 IP), seven walks and 39 strikeouts in six starts...Was moved to Triple-A Jacksonville where he made five appearances (four starts) from May 23-June 18, going 1-2 with a 5.66 ERA (13 ER/20.2 IP), eight walks and 18 strikeouts...Had contract selected by Miami on June 26 and made his MLB debut that day at Kansas City. Held KC to just two hits over five innings with no walks and two strikeouts, joining Aníbal Sánchez as the only two starting pitchers in club history to toss at least five scoreless innings and not walk a single batter in their ML debuts...Recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in his second career start on July 2 vs. BOS, becoming the ninth pitcher in Marlins history to strike out at least eight batters in one of his first two career starts, and the first since Sixto Sánchez on Aug. 28, 2020 vs. TB...Optioned back to Triple-A on July 3, making three more starts with the Jumbo Shrimp. Allowed five runs in 14.0 innings pitched, going 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA, nine walks and 15 strikeouts. Was recalled by Miami on Aug. 2 and spent the remainder of the season in the Majors...In 13 starts with the Marlins across two stints (June 26-July 3 and Aug. 2-Sept. 30), went 3-4 with a 3.67 ERA (28 ER/68.2 IP), 1.31 WHIP and .256 opponent’s AVG...Became just the third starter in Marlins history to keep his opponents scoreless in three of his first five career starts, joining Aníbal Sánchez in 2006 and Jordan Yamamoto in 2019...Became the first pitcher in club history to have an ERA of 2.28 or lower, two-or-fewer home runs and six-or-fewer walks allowed in his first five career starts...His 2.28 ERA through his first five career starts marked the lowest for any Mexican-born starting pitcher, minimum 25.0 IP (Stathead)...Held left-handed batters to a .238 AVG (29-for-122) with five doubles, five home runs, and a .703 OPS. Right-handed batters hit .270 (40-for-148) with nine doubles, one triple, 10 homers and an .868 OPS against Bellozo...Tossed a career-high 7.0 innings on Aug. 13 at PHI, allowing just four hits and one walk with four strikeouts in his fifth career start. Became just the fourth pitcher in Marlins history to throw at least seven scoreless innings on the road within his first five career games, joining Jordan Yamamoto (June 18, 2019), Justin Nicolino (June 20, 2015) and Dontrelle Willis (May 25, 2003)…In five starts in the month of Sept., posted a 2.67 ERA (8 ER/27.0 IP), lasting into the sixth inning in each outing...Per Baseball Savant, his fastball run value of eight ranked in the 82nd percentile. His 7.1 BB% ranked in the 64th percentile. 

2023

Split the season between Double-A Corpus Christi and High-A Asheville in Houston’s player development system. Finished the campaign going 3-4 with a 5.55 ERA (68 ER/110.1 IP) in 26 games...Ranked second among all Astros Minor League pitchers in BB/9 (2.61) and third among all Astros Minor League pitchers in SO/BB ratio (3.31)...In 10 relief appearances, posted a 4.05 ERA (19 ER/40.0 IP), compared to a 6.40 ERA (50 ER/70.1 IP) in 16 games started...Left-handed batters hit .277 (56-for-202) with an .795 OPS, while right handed batters hit .257 (59-for-230) with a .816 OPS. 

2022

Combined to make 15 appearances (10 starts) between Single-A Fayeteville, FCL Astros Orange and FCL Astros Blue. Went 3-4 with a 2.59 ERA (14 ER/48.2 IP), 18 walks and 54 strikeouts in his first professional action since 2019...With Fayeteville, posted a 1.73 ERA (8 ER/41.2 IP), 3-2 record and 17 walks against 43 strikeouts in 10 appearances (five starts). Held batters to a .193 AVG (28-for-145)...Allowed just one home run across all levels.