Potomac right-hander Phillips Valdez showing good control to begin season

Right-hander Phillips Valdez has pitched well in his last two starts for the high Single-A Potomac Nationals.

The 24-year-old Valdez has allowed only two earned runs in his last 14 innings, giving up only seven hits and striking out 15. He struck out a career-high 11 batters on April 23 in a 5-2 win at Wilmington.

Overall he is 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA. But in three of his starts, he has given up a combined three earned runs in 14 innings.

Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart said the 6-foot-2, 160 lbs., Valdez was one to watch as spring training came to a close:

"The one guy that really jumps out with stuff and usage, everything seemed to tighten up (in his delivery) is Phillips Valdez," Menhart said. "Every spring training you love to have the 'wow' moment that's who surprises you. Valdez has had an outstanding spring training.

"(He has) plus stuff across the board with average feel. Misses have declined to the point where they are not as big a misses as they have been in the past. His misses are more quality, shorter distance away from where he wants to put the ball."

He has continued that control into the regular season. In five starts, Valdez has walked only four batters in 28 2/3 innings. In the career-high 11-strikeout performance, he walked none and allowed two hits in seven innings.

Valdez's repertoire is a "sinking, running fastball guy mid-90's mph, with a slider and changeup," Menhart said.

I always ask Menhart about the changeup, as they work on this pitch with their potential starters all the time.

It is one reason why left-hander Sammy Solis has evolved into a solid reliever. He has the ability to throw the changeup after all those years as a starter. I asked Menhart if Valdez was achieving the "minus-10" on his changeup, meaning the velocity is around 10 mph less than his fastball mph.

"I don't put too much stock in the minus-10 mph as long as there is a good sell," Menhart said. "He doesn't slow his arm down and he throws it with purpose. It has the potential to be a pretty effective out pitch."

Valdez joins Wirkin Estevez, Luis Reyes and Hector Silvestre (seven-day disabled list) as Dominican players currently on the P-Nats roster.