Valdez Proud Of, Driven By His Baseball-Rich Hometown

Don't get Ordomar Valdez wrong.

The Scrappers infielder is proud of his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris -- a city in the Dominican Republic that has become known for producing baseball talent (adopting the nickname "The Cradle of Shortstops") as much as it's known for producing sugar cane (the base for two of the DR's three biggest plantations).

"It's a blessing to be from San Pedro," Valdez said through translator Juan Acevedo. "There are many players that come from there [including] one of my favorite players, Robinson Cano."

In fact, 76 players in MLB history have hailed from the city that is considered the capital of Dominican baseball. 

However, behind the talent that litters San Pedro de Macoris is a gloomier picture. Many neighborhoods suffer from extreme poverty. Meanwhile, the city has recently experienced unsafe drinking water that's caused multiple water-related diseases. 

It is factors like these that have driven the 20 year-old since his youth.

"It was tough because the place where I grew up had indigenous people," Valdez said. "But as soon as I started playing baseball, I tried to work hard to try and get out from the indigene and become something."

His hard work culminated into a contract with the Cleveland Indians on Aug. 26, 2010. That day, a 16 year-old Valdez worked out twice for the Tribe near his hometown -- once in the afternoon and then later in the evening.

The next two years, Valdez played for the Indians Dominican Summer League team before finally coming to the United States last season to join Cleveland's Arizona League rookie team. He hit .279 in 41 games.

This season with the Scrappers -- although not an everyday player -- the 5-foot-9, 150-pounder is batting .267 in 31 games while splitting time at second and third base. He went 1 for 4 and scored Mahoning Valley's lone run in its 2-1 loss at Williamsport on Thursday.

"I feel like I've been batting pretty good," Valdez said. "The only things I try to do is keep my mind positive and give my best every single day. Even though I don't play every day, I prepare for the games like I'm going to play."

While he has surprising pop in his bat for weighing just a buck-fifty, the switch-hitter's biggest asset may be his speed, as he swiped 16 bags in 2011 and 25 in 2012. Valdez knows his quickness can be a valuable weapon. 

"It's a great ability for me to have speed," he said. "Being able to run really fast can help out the team in many different ways."

However, he only has five stolen bases this season, while he's been caught five times. It's something Valdez is working on in order to help eventually add his name to the list of MLB players from San Pedro de Macoris.

"I've improved on hitting and my mindset and self-control, too," he said. "Now, I'm aiming to develop skill on how I can steal more bases more often."