Pitchers are generally not good at batting, with very few exceptions in today’s MLB. Most pitchers spend their whole time focussing on becoming the best at pitching. This leaves a lot to be desired regarding their batting at the MLB level. But one Houston Astros pitcher recently showed off his batting skills. The pitcher is none other than Framber Valdez.
In 2022, Valdez performed well with his pitching and was named an All-Star for the first time. While doing so, Valdez became the first Astros pitcher to collect a win in the All-Star game. But in a recent video, Valdez impressed fans with his batting ability.
Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez can really bat
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In a video that was recently shared by Talkin’ Baseball on Twitter, Valdez can be seen going up to bat. The All-Star would then proceed to hit multiple home runs. But what was surprising is the manner in which he hit them. The Astros pitcher hit home runs while batting both right-handed and left-handed.
Framber Valdez can hit bombs from both sides of the plate 😳 pic.twitter.com/aqoMMstHXp
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 28, 2022
Talkin’ Baseball shared the video on Twitter and said “Framber Valdez can hit bombs from both sides of the plate 😳”. The video may be a bit surprising considering that people would have expected Valdez’s pitching to be highlighted. But the Astros All-Star has a clean swing and was making good contact. Who knows, he may be giving Shohei Ohtani some competition next season.
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Throughout the video, you can see him getting multiple hits and having a good time. Valdez is coming off a big 2022 season and is looking to be in good physical shape this offseason. The Houston Astros pitcher was very good all year and showed his ability in the postseason as well.
Valdez helped the Astros win a World Series this year
During the 2022 World Series, Framber Valdez played very well and helped the Houston Astros win the title. Valdez pitched in 2 games during the World Series and won both of them. Many considered him the Astros’ second-best pitcher behind Justin Verlander.
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Now that Verlander has left in Free Agency, Valder may very well step into his spot for the upcoming 2023 season. He has shown his skill with the bat this offseason but it remains to be how he will perform on the mound this upcoming season. What do you think of Valdez’s batting skills? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.