Astros’ Valdez Denies Intent to Harm Catcher After Yankees Game Incident
HOUSTON, TX – Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez has moved to dispel suggestions he intentionally targeted teammate Cesar Salazar during Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees. The incident,which occurred in the top of the 7th inning,sparked immediate speculation,but Valdez’s agent,Ulises Cabrera,has strongly refuted any claims of malicious intent.
According to reports, Valdez hit Salazar, his catcher, with a fastball clocked at approximately 93 mph (150 km/h) to the chest. the pitch came shortly after Yankees outfielder Trent grisham hit a grand slam, and after Salazar had signaled to Valdez to step off the mound before facing Grisham. Valdez, though, did not heed the signal.
Agent calls Accusations “absurd” and “Disrespectful”
“The idea that Framber woudl deliberately try to harm a teammate is absurd,” Cabrera told the Houston Chronicle. “This demonstrates a complete lack of respect for him, both as a person and as a player. These accusations are a complete mischaracterization and are simply untrue.”
Cabrera emphasized that Valdez and Salazar addressed the incident immediately following the game, attributing it to a misunderstanding and a potential malfunction with the PitchCom system, the electronic device used for play calling.He reiterated that any suggestion of intentionality is unfounded.
“Mistakes happen all the time; that’s part of the game,” Cabrera stated. “The problem arises when framber’s character as a teammate and his dedication to supporting his colleagues, both on and off the field, are called into question.”
Valdez acknowledged making a mistake with the pitch, but Cabrera firmly denied any deliberate attempt to injure Salazar. Valdez, a key contributor to the Astros’ success with 80 career wins, is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and is widely expected to be one of the most sought-after starting pitchers on the market.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.