George Valera Rejoins Guardians on Minor League Deal

The Cleveland Guardians have brought back former top outfield prospect George Valera on a minor league deal, inviting him to big league Spring Training as a non-roster player.

A Promising Start
Valera, now 24, was a notable international amateur signee in 2017. He excelled in the lower minors and reached Double-A at just 20 years old. His impressive offensive potential made him one of Cleveland’s most highly regarded minor leaguers, earning him a spot in Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects in 2022 and 2023. The Guardians added him to the 40-man roster after the 2021 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Recent Struggles
Unfortunately, Valera's stock has dropped over the past couple of years. While he had a strong showing in Double-A at age 21, his performance at Triple-A Columbus has been less impressive. Over three seasons, he posted a .229/.336/.424 batting line. Despite a solid 13.5% walk rate, his strikeout rate was a concerning 26.7% over 865 Triple-A plate appearances.

Injury Setbacks
Valera’s progress has been further hindered by a series of injuries. He has dealt with hamstring issues and had surgery to repair a hamate fracture in his right hand during the 2022-23 offseason. His 2024 campaign was cut short in September due to a knee injury that required patellar tendon surgery, with an expected recovery timeline of at least six months, putting his availability for Spring Training in doubt.

​As Valera prepares to rejoin the Guardians, the team and fans alike will be eager to see if he can regain his form and fulfill the promise he showed early in his career.