The right-handed pitcher, born in Guanabacoa near Havana on June 2, appeared in five games in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957 during his 13-year pro career.

Primarily a starting pitcher, he was a prolific winner during his minor league tenure, reaching double digits in victories for ten consecutive seasons (1952–1961).

In his début April 21 at Ebbets Field, he held the Pittsburgh Pirates without a hit over 32⁄3 innings pitched in relief of Dodger ace Don Newcombe.

[4] Two poor outings followed, resulting in Valdés' demotion to the Triple-A Montreal Royals, where he won 11 games and posted a 2.87 earned run average.

He was recalled in September and started what would be the Brooklyn Dodgers' penultimate game, on the 28th against the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.