John Valentin was a professional baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets during his career. He was born on February 18, 1967, in Mineola, New York, and attended Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Valentin was drafted by the Red Sox in the fifth round of the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.
Valentin made his Major League debut with the Red Sox in 1992 and quickly established himself as a versatile player who could play multiple positions. He played primarily at shortstop, but also played second base and third base throughout his career. Valentin was known for his strong arm and solid defensive skills, as well as his ability to hit for power and average.
In 1995, Valentin had a breakout season with the Red Sox, hitting .298 with 27 home runs and 102 runs batted in. He was named to the American League All-Star team and finished 12th in the MVP voting. Valentin continued to be a productive player for the Red Sox over the next several seasons, hitting at least 15 home runs in each of the next four seasons.
Valentin suffered a serious knee injury in 1997 that limited his playing time for the next two seasons. He returned to form in 2000, hitting .315 with 25 home runs and 102 runs batted in. Valentin was again named to the All-Star team and finished 14th in the MVP voting.
After spending his entire career with the Red Sox, Valentin signed with the New York Mets as a free agent in 2002. He played one season with the Mets, hitting .232 with 4 home runs and 22 runs batted in. Valentin retired from baseball after the 2002 season.
In his career, Valentin played in 1,174 games, hitting .279 with 124 home runs and 558 runs batted in. He was a versatile player who could play multiple positions, and was known for his strong arm and solid defensive skills. Valentin was also a productive hitter who could hit for power and average.
Overall, John Valentin had a successful career in Major League Baseball, playing for two teams over the course of 11 seasons. He was a productive player who was known for his versatility and solid all-around skills. While he may not be remembered as one of the all-time greats, Valentin was a valuable player who made significant contributions to his teams throughout his career.
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