Turn Off Ads?
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 35

Thread: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

  1. #1
    Red's fan mbgrayson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    2,303

    Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Reds 3rd round draft pick, 84th overall in 2006 draft
    Signed for $437,500
    Assigned to Billings Mustangs


    Baseball America May 2006:
    "Chris Valaika, ss/2b (National rank: 121)
    School: UC Santa Barbara. Class: Jr.
    Hometown: Valencia, Calif.
    B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 195. Birthdate: 8/14/85.
    Scouting Report: Scouts have had a long time to evaluate Valaika against quality competition. He was on three USA Baseball teams, winning a gold medal in 2001 with the youth national team and a silver medal in 2003 with the Pan American Games junior national team. He earned a gold medal at the World University Games with the college national team in 2004 as an infield reserve behind future first-round picks Jed Lowrie, Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Zimmerman. However, Valaika hit a speed bump last year when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He has worked hard to come back and doesn't wear a brace on his knee. He's a hard worker with solid-average tools. Most of his success owes to his good hands. He shows quick hands at the plate that generate average power, particularly inviting for a player who should stay in the infield defensively. Valaika's hands work well in the infield, though his range at shortstop is below-average and he's a fringe-average runner. With better patience at the plate, Valaika's power should increase. His makeup is a significant plus. He can play second base and has enough arm for third, making him an ideal utility infielder."

    From USCB Web Site:
    "2006
    Will be back in the lineup as the Gauchos' starting shortstop...Named to the 2006 Wallace Watch List by the College Baseball Foundation.

    2005
    After his Freshman All-American and Big West Freshman of the Year performance in 2004, Valaika missed the majority of his sophomore campaign due to injury...Played in 18 games before the setback...In only 72 at-bats, he managed to rack up five doubles and twelve runs scored...Went 3-for-6 with two runs scored, a double, one RBI and a walk at Pepperdine on February 5...Batted 3-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored and a walk in a 6-1 victory over San Jose State on February 13.

    2004
    Valaika was named Big West Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American after starting all 54 games in 2004...Hit .347, blasting seven homeruns and driving in 38...Was the team leader in total bases (119), doubles (15) and extra-base hits (25)...Hit .311 (23-for-74) with runners in scoring position...Had a team-high 24 multi-hit games...Also recorded eight multi-RBI games...He went 70-for-183, .383, over the final 44 games, collecting at least one hit in 38 of those...Was a perfect five-for-five with five runs scored, three RBI, two doubles, a homer and a walk February 28 against Fresno State...Also posted four hits and three RBI in an April 3 game against Sacramento State...Went 3-for-5 driving in four and scoring one against Cal State Fullerton on April 13...On April 30 he was 3-for-4 in a win over Long Beach State...Valaika hit in eight of nine games against Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State and UC Irvine, all Big West opponents that advanced to the NCAA Tournament...Against those three opponents he was 14-for-37 (.378) with eight RBI, nine runs scored, four doubles, two triples and two homeruns...Finished the season with two or more hits in four straight games and six of the last eight...Not only did Valaika have 24 multi-hit games, he had eight games with three or more hits...In addition to his stellar play offensively, he had just 12 errors in 287 chances in the field.

    Team USA
    Won a Gold medal while playing with Team USA Under-16 squad in the World Games in Veracruz, Mexico...Won a Silver medal with the U-18 team in the 2003 Pan-America Games in Curacao after hitting .385 with two homers and two doubles...Won a Gold medal with the USA National team in the Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo where he had eleven hits, two triples and a homerun.

    High School
    Played at Hart High School under coach Jim Ozella...Hit .411 as a sophomore and junior and .426 as a senior...Recorded 42 doubles in those three years and compiled 107 hits...Received All-Foothill League honors his sophomore, junior and senior seasons...Also received First Team All-State and First Team All-CIF honors as a junior and senior...Holds the school record for most career home runs with 18.

    Personal
    Born August 14, 1985 in Santa Monica, California...Aspires to play professional baseball...Roots for the Los Angeles Dodgers...Majoring in Anthropology at UCSB...Favorite athlete is former Gaucho shortstop, Michael Young...Favorite movies are Bull Durham and Cocktail...Most memorable sports moment was winning a gold medal in Taiwan...Favorite aspects of Santa Barbara are the beach and the weather...Best quote received about baseball and/or life is from James Dean who stated, "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today"...Enjoys watching Family Guy, Nip Tuck and CSI...Three words that describe him are outgoing, loyal and dedicated...Son of Jeff and Ilona Valaika."

    Individual Batting Stats at Billings thru 8/11/06:
    Pos AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS OBP SLG OPS SH SF IBB GIDP HBP
    2B .317 48 186 44 59 15 1 8 48 18 36 2 1 .390 .538 .928 2 6 0 7 8

    From the 8/12/06 Billings Gazette:
    Valaika, Mustangs roll past Great Falls
    Shortstop extends hitting streak to 19 games in 7-1 win
    By BILL BIGHAUS
    Of The Gazette Staff

    The hits keep coming for Chris Valaika - and so do the wins for the Billings Mustangs. Valaika extended his hitting streak to 19 games Friday night, and the Mustangs prevailed in their third-straight game - downing the Great Falls White Sox 7-1 in front of 2,207 at Cobb Field.

    Valaika, a 20-year-old shortstop, didn't waste much time in adding to what is the longest hitting streak in the Pioneer League this season.

    He singled sharply to left field on the first pitch he received from Tyson Corley in the bottom of the first inning and also laced a run-scoring double down the left-field line on the first pitch he received from Corley in the bottom of the third.

    "I'm trying not to really think about it," he said of his sizzling success at the plate. "I'm just trying to do what I can to help the team. When you put the ball in play, good things will happen." Valaika, who will turn 21 on Monday, is batting .313 for Billings this season. He also drove in his league-leading 49th run with his third-inning double.

    "I'm seeing the ball real well," he said. "Not just me, but the whole team in general has been hitting the ball well. We pitched great and played good defense again tonight, so we're going to win a lot of games."

    Right fielder Mike McKennon belted his first home run since opening night in mid-June - a 3-run shot to right in the Mustangs' seven-run third inning. His powerful shot even knocked a branch off a tree just beyond the fence and the limb fell back on to the ballpark's warning track.

    "Mike's been struggling with the bat a little bit and it's great to see him turn it around," said Valaika.

    While the Mustangs' bats were lively, right-handed pitcher Jordan Smith also threw a mean slider and ran his season record to 4-1 by throwing five innings of one-hit ball. He walked four batters and struck out three.

    "I was just locating my fastball down low where they can't get good wood on it," said Smith. "I was just getting a lot of ground balls today."

    The only hit Smith allowed came in the second inning when Tyler Reves singled under the glove of Billings third baseman Angel Colon.

    Billings, now 8-5 in second-half play and 31-20 overall, left the bases loaded in the first inning.

    The Mustangs, however, put the game away in the third, sending 13 batters to the plate and scoring seven runs on six hits.

    After Billy Rojo walked with one out and Danny Dorn singled, Valaika, who is from Valencia, Calif., and bats clean-up in the Billings lineup, lit the scoreboard with his RBI-double.

    Another walk loaded the bases, and Chris Heisey responded with a two-run double down the third-base line to make it 3-0.

    The next batter, Angel Colon, struck out, but McKennon, who entered the game with a .192 batting average, ripped a Corley fastball over the fence in right to plate three more runs.

    "It's been about 100 at-bats," McKennon said of his home-run drought. "It felt good to finally get another one."

    "After that one game when they stuck it to us a little bit, we had a meeting in here with (manager Rick Burleson) and he kind of lit a fire under us," Valaika said. "Ever since then we've been playing real well and I think it's going to continue."

    Great Falls scored its lone run in the sixth on a double by Christian Marrero and a single by Chris Carter.

    "It was a great game," said Valaika. "We were lucky enough to put that seven spot up and played hard the rest of the game. Smitty kept us in the game the whole time. Then (Misael) DeJesus and (Adam) Pointer finished it. It was a great game."


    Published on Saturday, August 12, 2006.
    Last edited by mbgrayson; 08-14-2006 at 02:05 AM.
    __________________
    "I think we’re starting to get to the point where people are starting to get tired of this stretch of ball,” Votto said. “I think something needs to start changing and start going in a different direction. I’m going to do my part to help make that change.”


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #2
    Member Superdude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    2,812

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    He can play second base and has enough arm for third, making him an ideal utility infielder."
    I've been hearing that a little too muc for comfort.

  4. #3
    Member CTA513's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Posts
    10,757

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Valaika is hitting pretty good for someone who is supposed to be a utility player.

    .321, 16 Doubles, 1 Triple, 8 Homeruns, 50 RBIs

    He is the league leader in RBIs and is near the top of the league for doubles and homeruns.

  5. #4
    Red's fan mbgrayson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    2,303

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    I went to the Billings game tonight. Valaika hit very well: 3 singles in 4 ABs with one K. Plays a nice shortstop too....

    __________________
    "I think we’re starting to get to the point where people are starting to get tired of this stretch of ball,” Votto said. “I think something needs to start changing and start going in a different direction. I’m going to do my part to help make that change.”

  6. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Posts
    13,747

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    time for a callup to Dayton?? I think so

    Let him finish out the year there. BTW what are Stubbs' current stats there?
    Go BLUE!!!

  7. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Cumming, GA
    Posts
    621

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Drew Stubbs: Individual Stats (Batting)
    G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
    43 157 32 40 6 3 3 17 61 24 48 16 3 .376 .389 .255

  8. #7
    Red's fan mbgrayson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    2,303

    Chris Valaika hitting streak at 26

    Tonight Chris Valaika got another hit, running his streak to 26 straight games. This streak is one shy of the Mustangs team record and four short of the Pioneer League record.

    As of 8/19, Valaika, the Reds 3rd round pick this year, is hitting .320, with a .390 OBP, a .530 slugging rate, and 8 HRs.
    __________________
    "I think we’re starting to get to the point where people are starting to get tired of this stretch of ball,” Votto said. “I think something needs to start changing and start going in a different direction. I’m going to do my part to help make that change.”

  9. #8
    Member CrackerJack's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Cincinnati, OH
    Posts
    5,190

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Yes Valaika's #'s are eye popping, and he's a SS. Move him on up.

  10. #9
    Member Elam's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,109

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Valaika was part of BA's Hot Sheet this week under "In the Team Photo":
    Chris Valaika, ss, Rookie-level Billings (Reds): Consistency has been the story of Valaika's season. A third-rounder out of UC Santa Barbara, he carried a 27-game hitting streak into Monday's game, and he had hit safely in 36 of his last 37 games. He's hit both lefties (.306) and righthanders (.326), and he's shown a steady glove at shortstop, where he leads all Pioneer League shortstops in total chances and double plays.
    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...et/262251.html

  11. #10
    Red's fan mbgrayson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    2,303

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Chris Valaika extended his hitting streak to a Mustang's record 28 games tonight. He was 3 for 5, with two triples.

    See this story: http://www.billingsgazette.net/artic.../19-streak.txt
    __________________
    "I think we’re starting to get to the point where people are starting to get tired of this stretch of ball,” Votto said. “I think something needs to start changing and start going in a different direction. I’m going to do my part to help make that change.”

  12. #11
    "So Fla Red"
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    5,629

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Nice. Thanks for the info.

  13. #12
    Member CTA513's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Posts
    10,757

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Quote Originally Posted by mbgrayson
    Chris Valaika extended his hitting streak to a Mustang's record 28 games tonight. He was 3 for 5, with two triples.

    See this story: http://www.billingsgazette.net/artic.../19-streak.txt
    Valaika also added 2 RBIs, which gives him a total of 56 RBIs and thats 9 more than the next guy below him. He also has the most hits and is near the top in doubles. Hes doing pretty good for someone thats supposed to have a future as a utility player.

  14. #13
    Member CTA513's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Posts
    10,757

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Billings played an earlier game today.
    Valaika went 2 for 4 extending his hit streak to 29 games.

  15. #14
    Charlie Brown All-Star IslandRed's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    Melbourne, FL
    Posts
    5,042

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Quote Originally Posted by CTA513
    He's doing pretty good for someone thats supposed to have a future as a utility player.
    I guess I read all the reports differently, but I'm not sure he was projected as a utility player so much as it was noted that he had the ability to be one if it came to that. Pretty much anyone that can play multiple infield positions and isn't considered a top-shelf hitter on draft day gets the "potential utility player" tag. If he keeps hitting, people will stop mentioning it soon enough.
    Reading comprehension is not just an ability, it's a choice

  16. #15
    Moderator RedlegJake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Saint Joseph, Mo
    Posts
    9,731

    Re: Prospect Profile: Chris Valaika

    Be wary though. Billings is where Gary Redus hit something like .490 and was then buried under hype and never able to be anything near the player that expectations for him became.


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator