Luis Valbuena

{{Short description|Venezuelan baseball player (1985–2018)}} {{for|the Spanish Olympic gymnast|Luis Valbuena (gymnast)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}{{Infobox baseball biography | name = Luis Valbuena | image = Luis Valbuena.png |image_size = 250px | caption = Valbuena with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 | position = Infielder | birth_date = {{Birth date|1985|11|30}} | birth_place = Caja Seca, Venezuela | death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|12|6|1985|11|30}} | death_place = Cocorote Municipality, Yaracuy, Venezuela | bats = Left | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = September 2 | debutyear = 2008 | debutteam = Seattle Mariners | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = August 3 | finalyear = 2018 | finalteam = Los Angeles Angels | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .226 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 114 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 367 | teams = * Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2008}}) * Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2009}}–{{mlby|2011}}) * Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2014}}) * Houston Astros ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}}) * Los Angeles Angels ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2018}}) }}

'''Luis Adan Valbuena''' (November 30, 1985 – December 6, 2018) was a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder. He played eleven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 2008 through 2018, for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Angels. While primarily a third baseman, Valbuena also played second base and first base. He was killed alongside José Castillo in a 2018 car crash in Venezuela caused by bandits in an attempted robbery.

==Early life== Valbuena grew up in Sucre, a municipality in the Venezuelan state of Zulia. He was raised by a single mother named Nelly, who was the president of the local youth baseball league. Valbuena's older brother and several uncles helped him learn to play baseball.<ref name=Chron>{{cite web|last1=De Jesus Ortiz|first1=Jose|title=Astros newcomer Valbuena accustomed to adapting|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-newcomer-Valbuena-accustomed-to-adapting-6136015.php|publisher=Houston Chronicle|access-date=April 10, 2015|date=March 15, 2015}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===Seattle Mariners=== Valbuena began his professional career in the Seattle Mariners organization in 2005. He was first promoted to the major leagues on September 1, 2008, from the Mariners' Triple-A team, the Tacoma Rainiers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080901&content_id=3402685&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905023930/http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080901&content_id=3402685&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 5, 2008 |title=Mariners' roster swells |author=Jim Street |date=September 1, 2008 |access-date=September 2, 2008}}</ref>

===Cleveland Indians=== On December 10, 2008, Valbuena was traded to the Cleveland Indians in a three-team trade that sent Franklin Gutiérrez to Seattle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20081211&content_id=3712626&vkey=pr_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle |title=Indians, Mariners, Mets complete trade |work=mlb.com |access-date=July 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225082638/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20081211&content_id=3712626&vkey=pr_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle |archive-date=February 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Valbuena hit his first major league home run off of Bartolo Colón on June 7, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=valbulu01&t=b |title=Luis Valbuena Career Home Runs |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref>

thumb|left|Valbuena in 2011 In July 2011, the Indians optioned Valbuena to Triple-A Columbus, to make room for the promotion of rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110721&content_id=22118246&vkey=affililiate&c_id=cle |title=Tribe calls up touted prospect Jason Kipnis |work=mlb.com |date=July 22, 2011 |access-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> In August 2011, Valbuena was recalled after Kipnis was put on the disabled list with an oblique injury.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sullivan |first=Jeff |url=https://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/19/2373197/jason-kipnis-injury-indians-dl |title=Jason Kipnis Injury: Indians Rookie On DL With Hamstring Strain |publisher=SBNation.com |date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> He was designated for assignment and removed from the 40-man roster on November 18. On November 26, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2011/11/26/blue-jays-acquire-2b-valbuena-from-indians/ |title=Blue Jays acquire 2B Valbuena from Indians - CityNews Toronto |publisher=Toronto.citynews.ca |date=November 26, 2011 |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref>

===Chicago Cubs=== On April 4, 2012, Valbuena was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs after being optioned by the Blue Jays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/chubs-claim-former-blue-jay-valbuena/ |title=Cubs claim Valbuena off waivers |publisher=Sportsnet.ca |date=April 4, 2012 |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> He was outrighted to the minors on April 7. Valbuena was called up from the Triple-A Iowa Cubs on June 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/luis-valbuena-472528 |title=Luis Valbuena Stats, Fantasy & News |work=MLB.com |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref>

Valbuena played 108 games for Chicago in 2013, hitting .218 with 12 home runs and 37 runs batted in (RBIs). The next year, Valbuena's batting average increased to .249 over 149 games and he had 16 home runs and 51 RBIs.<ref name=BR>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/valbulu01.shtml Luis Valbuena Statistics and History]. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.</ref> By June 2014, Fangraphs noted that Valbuena was hitting fastballs well in the lower, outer portions of the strike zone, which had been a weakness for him in previous years.<ref name=Fangraphs>{{cite web|title=Luis Valbuena is suddenly a line-drive machine|url=http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/luis-valbuena-is-suddenly-a-line-drive-machine/|publisher=Fangraphs|date=June 17, 2014|access-date=April 10, 2015}}</ref>

===Houston Astros=== On January 19, 2015, the Cubs traded Valbuena and Dan Straily to the Houston Astros for Dexter Fowler.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/19/report-cubs-close-to-acquiring-dexter-fowler-from-the-astros/|title=Cubs acquire Dexter Fowler in a trade with the Astros|work=NBC Sports|date=January 19, 2015|first=Bill|last=Baer}}</ref> At the time of the trade, Valbuena was projected as the Astros' starting third baseman for 2015.<ref name=CB>[http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2015/1/19/7853129/who-is-luis-valbuena Dexter Fowler trade: Meet Luis Valbuena, the Astros' newest infielder]. ''Crawfish Boxes''. Retrieved April 10, 2015.</ref> Valbuena's average dropped to .224 in 2015, but he set a career-high with 25 home runs.<ref name="OCR">{{cite web |title=Angels reportedly nearing multiyear deal with Luis Valbuena |date=January 19, 2017 |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/0px-741664-text-margin.html |publisher=OC Register |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> With Jed Lowrie coming off the disabled list and Carlos Correa taking over the primary shortstop position, Valbuena was forced to share some of the first base duties along with Chris Carter and utility player Marwin González in order to get some playing time.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chapa |first=Sergio |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-roster-by-position-5360572.php |title=Astros roster by position |date=March 30, 2014 |publisher=HoustonChronicle.com |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref>

At the beginning of the 2016 season, Valbuena was the starting third baseman for the Astros. He began to split playing time between first and third base. With the call-up of Astros prospect Alex Bregman, Valbuena saw more playing time at first base.<ref>{{cite web|last=Young |first=Matt |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-Alex-Bregman-to-debut-at-third-base-8411233.php |title=Astros' Alex Bregman to debut at third base - Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=July 25, 2016 |access-date=February 22, 2018}}</ref>

===Los Angeles Angels=== On January 24, 2017, Valbuena signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/213945612/angels-sign-luis-valbuena-to-2-year-deal/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127160532/http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/213945612/angels-sign-luis-valbuena-to-2-year-deal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 27, 2017|title=Angels finalize 2-year deal with Valbuena|last=Kramer|first=Daniel|work=MLB.com|date=January 24, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2017}}</ref> Valbuena split time during the season between third base and first base. He ended the season hitting a career low .199 with 22 home runs and a career-high 65 RBI.<ref name=BR/>

Valbuena was designated for assignment by the Angels on August 5, 2018.<ref name="LAT">{{cite web |title=Angels designate Luis Valbuena for assignment |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-valbuena-20180805-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=August 5, 2018 |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> He hit .199 for the second straight season, finishing with nine home runs and 33 RBI.<ref name=BR/> He was released on August 7, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|author=RotoWire Staff |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/luis-valbuena-released-by-angels/ |title=Luis Valbuena: Released by Angels |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=August 7, 2018 |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> For the season, he had the slowest baserunning sprint speed of all major league third basemen, at 24.1 feet/second.<ref>[https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sprint_speed_leaderboard?year=2018&position=5&team=&min=10 Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard | baseballsavant.com]</ref>

==Death== On December 6, 2018, Valbuena, José Castillo, and Carlos Rivero were in a car in Yaracuy driven by Rivero's chauffeur when the group was ambushed by highway robbers. The players were members of Venezuelan winter team Cardenales de Lara, and were returning from a game played on the day of the crash.<ref name="espn">{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25474553/luis-valbuena-jose-castillo-killed-car-crash-caused-bandits|title=Luis Valbuena, Jose Castillo killed in car crash caused by bandits|work=ESPN|date=December 8, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref> In the driver's attempt to avoid the robbers the vehicle struck a rock and overturned, killing Valbuena and Castillo. Four men were arrested in connection with the incident after being found in possession of the players' property.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-07 |title=Four arrested in connection with deaths of Luis Valbuena, Jose Castillo |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/four-arrested-in-connection-with-deaths-of-luis-valbuena-jose-castillo |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-07 |title=4 arrested in former Angels infielder Luis Valbuena’s death, as baseball mourns |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2018/12/07/4-arrested-in-wake-of-luis-valbuenas-death-as-baseball-mourns/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Luis Valbuena}} {{Baseballstats |mlb=472528 |espn=29246 |br=v/valbulu01 |fangraphs=4969 |brm=valbue001lui |retro=V/Pvalbl001}} *{{Instagram|luisvalbuena1}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valbuena, Luis}} Category:1985 births Category:2018 deaths Category:Arizona League Cubs players Category:Cardenales de Lara players Category:Chicago Cubs players Category:Cleveland Indians players Category:Columbus Clippers players Category:Everett AquaSox players Category:Houston Astros players Category:Inland Empire 66ers players Category:Iowa Cubs players Category:Kane County Cougars players Category:Los Angeles Angels players Category:Major League Baseball infielders Category:Major League Baseball players from Venezuela Category:Baseball players from Zulia Category:Seattle Mariners players Category:Tacoma Rainiers players Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Road incident deaths in Venezuela Category:West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx players Category:Wisconsin Timber Rattlers players