Framber Valdez Credits His Faith for Helping Houston Astros to World Series Title
Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez helped lead his team to win their second World Series championship Sunday night after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-1, in game 6.
According to Sports Spectrum, Valdez, 28, turned in six innings with two hits allowed, two walks, nine strikeouts, and gave up one solo home run.
“I thought the sixth inning was critical for me,” Valdez told the MLB Network in a post-game interview, as former major league pitcher Pedro Martinez translated from Spanish to English. “I gave up a homer, but I kept my composure and my concentration on the game and was able to make pitches.”
Framber Valdez joins #MLBTonight after a pitching duel on his way to #WorldSeries glory in Houston 👏@astros | #LevelUp | @45PedroMartinez | @CY24_7 | @LasMayores pic.twitter.com/jTbTshjUyf
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 6, 2022
“Framber pitched a heck of a game,” Astros manager Dusty Baker told MLB Network after the World Series victory, “Nobody talks about it, but man, he was dealing.”
Valdez, who made his MLB debut in 2018, led the 2022 regular-season pitchers in quality starts (26), finishing third in wins (17), and leading the American League in innings pitched (201.1). He finished the season with a 2.82 ERA and 194 strikeouts.
He previously had a breakout 2021 season (11-6 in 22 starts).
In addition to his professional baseball career, Valdez helped build a church in his hometown of Guayacanes, Dominican Republic last December.
“I had always asked God to continue helping and blessing me, and in return I would build a church in Guayacanes for Pastor Antonio,’’ Valdez told the MLBPA in a Spanish interview.
Before Framber Valdez was pitching in the World Series, the kid from Palenque made a promise to build his friend, Pastor Antonio, a new church when he reached the majors. Today, with his dad, Valdez is fulfilling that promise and he couldn’t be happier.https://t.co/PbMm1vXSMd pic.twitter.com/OmsDN0VCSL
— MLBPA (@MLBPA) December 24, 2021
“Thank God for allowing me to fulfill the promised (December 30, 2021), it was one of my most valuable moments of my life together with my family and before God deliver the church as I promised,” Valdez wrote on Instagram at the time of the church opening.
According to USA Today, Valdez was tremendously involved with the construction and “will have spent about 2 million Dominican Pesos (around $100,000) of his own money on the 1,500-square-foot structure with room for 50.”
“People do this for profit and for business,’’ Valdez told the MLBPA. “I only ask God for good health and blessings for me and my family. I haven’t made a deal with God, ‘If I build You this church, You give me this,’ because I don’t like that. I don’t like feeling like this is a business deal. I’m doing this because I made a promise.’’
The Houston Astros are scheduled to host their World Series parade this Monday at noon in downtown Houston.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Kevork Djansexian/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
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