2021 Spring Academic All-Big Ten
2020 Spring Academic All-Big Ten
Career Highs
H: 2, five times
HR: 1, two times
RBI: 3, Stony Brook (3/26/19)
R: 2, three times
BB: 2, at Florida Gulf Coast (3/15/19)
SB: 1, six times
2021 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in 17 games with three starts (two at first base, on as designated hitter) ... named Academic All-Big Ten (5/27) for the second time ... handled 25 chances defensively without an error ... recorded a pinch-hit single and scored versus Nebraska (5/9) ... tied the game in the ninth inning with a two-out RBI single and connected for a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th inning in the home opener against Ohio State (3/20) ... made season debut in the outfield at Minnesota (3/6).
2020 (Sophomore): Started 13 games in centerfield ... named Academic All-Big Ten (6/10) ... collected nine hits, five RBIs, four runs, four walks and two stolen bases ... lifted two sacrifice flies, singled, hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored at Old Dominion (3/7) ... singled and stole a base versus Washington State (2/28) ... went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in the home opener against Wagner (2/25) ... recorded a two-out RBI double at North Florida (2/23) ... walked and singled in the second game against the Ospreys (2/22) ... started Opening Day in centerfield and reached twice on a single and a walk at No. 3 Miami (2/14).
2019 (Freshman): Played in 46 games with 42 starts (23 in center field, 17 in right field, two in left field) ... totaled 33 hits, 20 runs scored, 12 walks, 12 RBIs and four stolen bases ... popped two homers ... ranked tied for eighth in the league with seven doubles during Big Ten play ... put together a 23-game on-base streak ... scored a runner from third base with less than two outs 5-of-8 opportunities ... singled and laid down a sacrifice bunt at No. 21 Indiana (5/16) ... went 2-for-4 with a double against Northwestern (5/10) ... appeared on
SportsCenter "Top Plays" by robbing a homer versus Villanova (5/7) ... delivered an RBI single in the win at Penn State (5/4) ... walked, stole a base and laid down a sacrifice bunt at No. 30 Michigan (4/28) ... hit an RBI single in the first game against the Wolverines (4/26) ... lifted a sacrifice fly and singled against Iona (4/24) ... collected four hits, three runs, two RBIs, a stolen base and a walk in the series versus Purdue (4/19-21) ... doubled twice and scored twice in the series-clinching win against Michigan State (4/13) ... hit two doubles and scored twice in the win at Iowa (4/6) ... laid down a bunt single and walked versus Wagner (4/3) ... walked, singled and laid down a sacrifice bunt in the win over Ohio State (3/30) ... crushed a three-run homer against Stony Brook (3/26) ... collected three hits and a walk in the series versus Indiana State (3/22-24) ... went 2-for-3 with a solo homer in win at Florida Gulf Coast (3/17) ... had a sacrifice fly, a single and a stolen base in the doubleheader at USC Upstate (3/9) ... picked up first hit in start at Old Dominion (3/3) ... made collegiate debut as a pinch hitter at Miami (2/15).
Prior to Rutgers: A four-year letterwinner at Palmetto … played center field, shortstop and pitched … named a 2018 All-American and First Team All-Dade County ... also earned 9A-16 District Player of the Year and team MVP ... hit .406 with 22 RBIs, 24 runs and two homers ... pitched to a 7-1 record with two saves, compiling a 1.46 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 61 strikeouts ... named to 2018 Senior All-Star Team and honorable mention All-Florida Region by
Perfect Game … helped the Panthers to GMAC Tournament championship after winning the district … earned team MVP as a junior after hitting .337 with 16 RBIs and 23 runs scored … named All-Dade Third Team and all-district … team won the region and advanced to state final four … an honorable mentioned All-Dade selection as a sophomore … hit .357 in first varsity season in 2015.
Personal: Son of Victor and Vivian Valderrama … has two older sisters, Vanessa and Veronica.
Know Your Knights
Nickname: Vic, Valdi
One word to describe Coach Owens: Determined
Favorite Rutgers athlete, past or present: Carli Lloyd
Favorite place to hang out on campus: Locker room
The person I most admire is: My father because he taught me to work hard and to earn my way through life.
Favorite professional athlete: Tom Brady
Favorite professional sports team: Miami Heat
One word to describe myself on the field: Tough
One word to describe myself off the field: Relaxed
Few people know that I: Am from Miami.
Person who had greatest influence on my athletics career: My father
I started playing my sport because: I played soccer and football and wanted to try another sport.
I chose Rutgers because: It was the best academic school out of my offers.
Favorite cereal: Reese’s Puffs
The movie I have watched the most in my lifetime:
Benchwarmers
The best actor to play me in a movie: Henry Cavil
Favorite musician/group: Kygo
The first song I knew all the words to: "Wheel in the Sky" - Journey
If I could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, I would win a gold medal at: Whistling.
Famous people I have met include: Mike Stanton, Hanley Ramirez, Jose Ureña
Rituals I have before, during or after a game are: Listening to music before the games. Most of the time I listen to orchestra or piano music to relax.
Favorite all-time gift received: My gaming laptop
Pets I had growing up: Dogs, fish and turtles
My favorite Halloween costume growing up: Superman
The place in the world I would most like to visit: Egypt
My favorite teacher: Mr. Gonzalez (Grade 12, economics)
The quote that most resonates with me: “Be better today than you were yesterday, be better tomorrow than you were today.”
If my life was a book, the title would be: Against the Odds
If I could choose any color when buying a new car it would be: Matte white.
My spirit animal: Raven/Wolf
One thing on my bucket list: Go to Ultra Music Festival
Phone app you cannot live without: Snapchat
What would you like to say to the R Fund donors who have provided for your scholarship and/or facility resources? Thank you for the opportunity you have given me to attend a great school. Without your support, I wouldn’t be here.
How has Rutgers and donor support changed your life? I got the opportunity I’ve always dreamed of, which is to play college baseball at the Division I level.
