The Cleveland Guardians re-signed outfielder George Valera (knee) to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training next year. Valera was non-tendered by the team last Friday but quickly has rejoined the organization. The 24-year-old underwent surgery on his right knee in September and therefore will probably be unavailable for the start of spring training and the start of next season. In all likelihood, he will be assigned to Triple-A Columbus in 2025 when he's fully recovered from his knee surgery. Valera spent the entire 2024 season at Columbus, slashing .248/.337/.452 with a .789 OPS, 17 home runs, 50 RBI, six stolen bases and 51 runs scored in 90 games and 374 trips to the plate. He sports a .243/.358/.452 career slash line with 80 homers and 273 RBI in his six minor-league seasons.
George Valera To Have Knee Surgery, To Miss 6-9 Months
Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect George Valera (knee) was diagnosed with a patellar tendon rupture in his right knee. Valera will have surgery on Wednesday and is expected to be out for six to nine months. It's a tough break for the team's No. 21 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old spent the entire year at Triple-A Columbus, slashing .248/.337/.452 with a .789 OPS, 17 home runs, 50 RBI, six stolen bases and 51 runs scored in 90 games. He was placed on the seven-day injured list at Columbus last Friday due to the serious injury. Even if Valera avoids any setbacks during his rehab this winter, there's a good chance he won't be ready to go for the start of spring training next February. Valera missed time in 2023 as well with wrist and hamstring injuries while also serving a short suspension. The left-handed-hitting outfielder offers 30-homer upside at the next level.
Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect George Valera went 3-for-4 with a home run in the opening game of Thursday's doubleheader. Valera has begun to find his footing at Triple-A in June after getting off to a slow start in May. Through June, the 23-year-old has held a .253/.333/.446 slash line with four home runs, 16 RBI, and two stolen bases. In May, Valera posted a much lower .214/.327/.381 line with just three home runs and nine RBI. In addition, Valera is on pace to set career-highs in all major batting statistics at Triple-A this season compared to his previous stints at Triple-A, which suggests he could be fast approaching his major league debut. Valera could become an interesting stash candidate in deeper leagues if he continues to showcase his power and quality hitting skills.
Cleveland Indians outfield prospect George Valera (wrist), who left Tuesday's Cactus League game after injuring his right wrist on a swing, will take a couple days off before potentially having an MRI exam on his wrist. It's the same wrist that he had surgery on his hamate bone, and manager Terry Francona said "it's hard to imagine that's not somehow affecting it." We should know more on the promising young 22-year-old outfielder in the coming days, but this injury could scrap any plans Valera had of winning a spot on Cleveland's Opening Day roster in 2023. Depending on the severity of the injury, he should make his major-league debut this year, though. In 2022, Valera was listed as the team's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he has plenty of power to spare from the left side of the plate.
George Valera Leaves Early Tuesday With Wrist Injury
Cleveland Guardians outfielder George Valera (hand, wrist) fouled a ball off in the team's Cactus League game on Tuesday and immediately dropped his bat and grabbed his right hand/wrist in pain. Valera was then removed from the game. It didn't look good, and it's especially worrisome for the 22-year-old after he needed surgery on the same hand in the offseason for a broken hamate bone. The team should release more information on his injury on Wednesday, so make sure to check back for an update on his condition. Valera was the club's No. 2 prospect in 2022 and hit .250 with a career-high 24 homers and 82 RBI at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus last year. He has plenty of power from the left side and is looking to make his big-league debut in 2023, but this injury could set him back significantly, depending on how much time he misses.
Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect George Valera (hand) is recovering from surgery on his right hand due to a broken hamate bone. The team's top position-player prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, had a similar surgery in 2018. He has been taking dry swings but is expected to be a bit behind the rest of the team's position players in spring training. Valera hit .250 with 25 doubles, 24 home runs and 84 RBI at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus in 2022 while also striking out 145 times and walking 74 times. It typically takes around six to eight weeks to recover from hamate surgery, so it's likely that Valera will begin the year at Triple-A. However, he's a good bet to make his MLB debut at some point in 2023 if he can stay healthy.
The Cleveland Guardians promoted outfield prospect George Valera from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus on Monday. The 21-year-old had an .837 OPS in 90 games at Akron to earn the promotion. Cleveland now has nine of the league's top-100 prospects, per MLB pipeline, in Valera, Daniel Espino, Gavin Williams, Gabriel Arias, Brayan Rocchio, Tyler Freeman, Logan Allen, Nolan Jones and Bo Naylor. Valera hit .264/.367/.470 with 15 home runs, 59 RBI, 64 runs scored and two stolen bases in 90 games at Double-A. He's the team's No. 2 prospect behind Espino right now, and he has a loose and smooth left-handed swing that regularly makes hard contact.
Cleveland Indians outfielder George Valera (oblique) has been activated from the 10-day injured list. The 20-year-old outfielder was sidelined for roughly a month, but will return to Double-A Lake County. He is currently the No. 93 prospect in the game by MLB Pipeline. However, Valera has struggled during his short stint in Double-A this season. The Indians are hopeful he can turn into a valuable core piece to their team. It sounds unlikely that he'll reach the big league roster this season, so fantasy managers can continue to avoid him.
George Valera
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