Joseph "Joe" John Valentine is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He is a 1997 graduate of Deer Park High School in Deer Park, New York, where he led the Falcons to the State championship title game.
Best known for his pitching with the Cincinnati Reds, then went on to the Astros and then the Brewers. Valentine was granted free agency by the Brewers. He was not picked up by any major league baseball team, so he went to pitch in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons (he never actually pitched for them; he pitched for their farm team). They released him in June, and the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League picked him up. In 37 relief appearances with them, he went 4-2 with a 1.54 ERA, striking out 37 batters in 35 innings of work.
Valentine started the 2008 season with the Ducks, making 14 appearances with them, saving six games and posting a 2-1 record and 1.62 ERA. In May, the Phillies signed him and assigned him to their Double-A affiliate, the Reading Phillies. After his release in June, Valentine re-signed with the Ducks, but on August 4 his contract was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds, where he was assigned to Double-A Chattanooga. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
So far in his big league career, Valentine is 2-4 with a 6.70 ERA.
During his time with the Reds, Valentine was the subject of a lengthy article about being raised by two lesbians, Deb Valentine (his biological mom) and Doreen Price, who raised him since his birth in Las Vegas in 1979. The couple has been together
for over 30 years. Joe never knew his dad and he has grown up as asupportive son who loves the two women who raised him. Joe was active in baseball and pageants while growing up. He married his high school sweetheart.
Valentine says, "It’s no different than having a mother and father. These are the two women who raised me, and they are wonderful people. It’s just not a big deal to me. Why should it be?"
No comments:
Post a Comment