Out
Injury Wrist
Est. Return 3/30/2023
2022 Stats
AVG
.000
HR
0
RBI
0
R
0
SB
0
2023 Projections
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Valera wasn't bad in 2022, but he isn't trending in the right direction after his age-21 season. The left-handed slugger hit for plenty of power (30.1 Hard%, .463 SLG, 24 HR), but his .250 average and 25.6 K% across Double-A and Triple-A weren't ideal marks for a player with his pedigree. As has always been the case, Valera has more value in OBP leagues (.353 OBP, 13.1 BB%) than AVG leagues. There is still a chance he will do more than enough at the plate to profile in left field or at designated hitter. However, Cleveland all of a sudden has a crowded depth chart in the upper levels, so Valera will have to earn his opportunities. Any speed contributions from Valera in the majors will be a bonus. Read Past Outlooks

Sent down to Triple-A camp
Valera (wrist) was optioned Sunday to Triple-A Columbus by the Guardians, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Valera has been bothered by a wrist injury, but he wasn't a real candidate to make the Opening Day roster regardless of health. The 22-year-old is widely considered one of the better hitting prospects in the Cleveland system, however, so there's a very good chance that he will make his MLB debut before the close of the 2023 season.
Valera has been bothered by a wrist injury, but he wasn't a real candidate to make the Opening Day roster regardless of health. The 22-year-old is widely considered one of the better hitting prospects in the Cleveland system, however, so there's a very good chance that he will make his MLB debut before the close of the 2023 season.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
A well-known prospect since being a prized international signee on July 2, 2017, Valera finally got a chance to play a full minor-league season in 2021 and he broke out in a big way. He hit .260/.405/.505 with 19 home runs, 11 steals, an 18.2 BB% and a 24.2 K% in 86 games as a 20-year-old at High-A and Double-A. It's easy to see where the appeal lies with Valera, as anyone who can hit for significant power while also walking over 15% of the time at age-appropriate levels has a chance to eventually profile as a middle-of-the-order force. He suffered an oblique strain after one week of play but showed no ill effects when he returned after four weeks. Valera is an average runner who is a bat-first player all the way, but fortunately he has a decent chance to hit enough to profile in left field. The left-handed hitter showed pronounced splits (.751 OPS vs. LHP, .946 OPS vs. RHP), and he will need to be passable against same-handed pitching to avoid sitting against at least some lefties. Already added to the 40-man roster, Valera will likely return to Double-A for his age-21 season before getting a midseason bump to Triple-A, which will set up an early 2023 MLB debut.
More Fantasy News

Doing bat-handling exercises
Valera (wrist) is doing light bat-handling exercises, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Could require MRI
Guardians manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that Valera (wrist) could undergo imaging in the coming days, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Exits with wrist discomfort
Valera had to leave Tuesday's game against the Royals with right wrist discomfort, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Recovered from offseason surgery
Valera is starting in center field and batting eighth in Sunday's spring training game against the Rangers.
ANALYSIS
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Recovering from hand surgery
Valera recently underwent surgery for a broken hamate bone in his right hand, reports Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
ANALYSIS
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