Valbuena, Luis

Valbuena was a pleasant surprise for The Tribe in 2009. Unexpectedly called into duty due to trades, injuries and ineffectiveness, He tallied 10 homes runs and 52 runs while manning the pivot for 103 games. Prior to that, the 23 year-old Valbuena had only 80 games at triple-A and a cuppa with the Mariners in 2008.

It looks like Valbuena will be the Indians second baseman in 2010, so what do we expect? Valbuena actually hit for a bit of average his second time through double-A and upon arrival in triple-A posting .300 averages and an on-base percentage greater than .380. And he hit for some power, posting 11 home runs in both 2007 and 2008. He's short, but strongly built and his fly ball rates and HR/FB were normal, so the power seems real.

Valbuena posted strikeout rates of approximately 1 in 6 most seasons in the minors leagues so his near 1 in 4 (combined with a low walk rate) is cause for concern. But Valbuena improved through the season, posting a .216 average with a worse and .661 OPS before the break and struck out better than 1 in 5 with .272/.752 after.

Valbuena was a double digit base-stealer in the minors but showed absolutely no inclination to stray off the bases in 2009. It would be a nice little bonus but you shouldn't expect it. .265-70-12-45-5. 525ABs