Agent defends Framber Valdez: Denies intent in hit by pitch to his catcher

Controversy in the Astros: Intention or error?

Houston Astros’ star pitcher Framber Valdez is at the center of controversy after an unusual incident during Tuesday’s game. After catcher César Salazar was hit in the chest by a Valdez pitch, speculation about possible intentionality was immediate. Valdez’s agent, Ulises Cabrera, has come out in defense of his client, calling any insinuation that the pitch was deliberate “absurd.” Cabrera emphasized that such an accusation is a “complete lack of respect” towards the person and the player that is Framber Valdez.

The idea that he is intentionally trying to injure one of his teammates is absurd. It’s a complete lack of respect for who he is as a person and as a player. And his work demonstrates it. Anything to the contrary is simply wrong and not correct.

Ulises Cabrera, Framber Valdez’s agent

The incident occurred in the fifth inning of the game against the Yankees, after Trent Grisham hit a grand slam. The pitch to Salazar, which traveled at 93 mph, raised doubts about whether Valdez was upset about the previous result.

Both Valdez and Salazar have assured that the incident was a misunderstanding, and that it was a communication error. The Astros manager, Joe Espada, has also downplayed the matter, indicating that he met with both players to clarify the situation. Astros general manager Dana Brown commented that Valdez got frustrated and made a mistake, but that both players talked and resolved the issue. Espada, for his part, seeks to leave the controversy behind and focus on the game. Agent Cabrera reiterated that misunderstandings are common in baseball and that questioning Valdez’s quality as a teammate is unfair. Espada wishes that all parties leave the incident behind.