Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Valdez improved his overall game in the past year and has emerged as one of the top middle infielders in the class because of it. He will sign as a shortstop and will stay at the position for the foreseeable future because of his tools and abilities. Specifically, scouts praise his soft hands and footwork. He also shows good instincts and plus arm potential with natural field presence.

He’s best known as a prospect with tons of upside on the offensive side. Valdez projects to be a middle-of-the-order hitter and run producer if he continues to develop and mature physically at a normal pace. He already shows the ability to hit hard line drives to all fields and drive the ball out of the ballpark to all fields. He shows a solid approach at the plate and a feel for the strike zone.

Valdez projects to be an average runner and has been praised for his makeup. He trains with Franklin Taveras in the Dominican Republic. The Cubs have shown interest in him.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

The Cubs quickly became enchanted by Valdez's bat when they began scouting him in the Dominican Republic, and they signed him for $2.8 million after he developed into one of the best prospects in the 2023 class. When he turned pro, Chicago vice president of international scouting Louie Eljaua said Valdez had the potential to grown into a Starlin Castro build with Hanley Ramirez production. He scuffled in his pro debut, however, batting .234/.328/.477 with a 41 percent strikeout rate in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. 

A right-handed hitter, Valdez has quick hands that produce plenty of bat speed and allow him to control the barrel well. He undermined himself in the DSL by chasing way too many pitches and trying to launch them as far as he could to his pull side. He does have plus raw power and could produce 20 or more homers per season, but he's going to have to significantly tone down his approach to survive against more advanced pitching.

Valdez possesses solid speed but still has a lot to learn about basestealing. His instincts and actions should enable him to stick at shortstop, where he displays solid arm strength. If he loses some quickness as he gains strength, he should be able to handle second or third base.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

The Cubs fell in love with Valdez's bat soon after seeing him in the Dominican Republic. He blossomed into one of the top prospects in the 2023 international class and signed with Chicago for $2.8 million in January. Cubs vice president of international scouting Louie Eljaua said Valdez could grow into a Starlin Castro build and provide Hanley Ramirez production. 

While he doesn't have the all-around upside of fellow Dominican shortstop Cristian Hernandez, who signed for $3 million two years earlier, Valdez does have more pure hitting ability. A right-handed hitter, he's very advanced at the plate with gifted hands that produce plenty of bat speed and enable him to manipulate the barrel well. He uses the entire field and focuses on driving the ball from gap to gap with the promise of at least average power once he matures physically. 

An average runner, Valdez has good instincts and actions at shortstop. He should be able to remain at the position, but if he slows a bit as he gets stronger, he should have enough quickness and the solid arm strength to handle either second or third base. If he reaches his ceiling, he'll profile well offensively at any position. 

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/08/2024	ACL Cubs activated SS Derniche Valdez from the restricted list.
	05/20/2024	ACL Cubs placed SS Derniche Valdez on the restricted list.
	05/03/2024	ACL Cubs activated SS Derniche Valdez from the restricted list.
	03/30/2024	SS Derniche Valdez assigned to ACL Cubs from DSL Cubs Blue.
	06/04/2023	SS Derniche Valdez assigned to DSL Cubs Blue.
	01/15/2023	SS Derniche Valdez assigned to DSL Cubs Red.
	01/15/2023	DSL Cubs Red activated SS Derniche Valdez.
	01/15/2023	Chicago Cubs signed free agent SS Derniche Valdez to a minor league contract.