Bio

Mike Valdes, 1996-99, was a dominating force on the Spartan baseball team. The 1998 NCAA Division II National Player of the Year led Tampa to the national championship in the same year. Valdes carried a perfect game into the fifth inning of the championship game before eventually beating Kennesaw State, 6-1, for the title. One of four UT baseball players to earn National Player of the Year honors, Valdes was also lauded the 1998 Sunshine State Conference Athlete of the Year and 1998 SSC Pitcher of the Year. Originally from Brandon, Fla., Valdes earned accolades as a two-time first-team All-American, two-time South Region Pitcher of the Year and 1998 region and national series All-Tournament teams member. Over a two year period, Valdes was the nation’s dominant pitcher. As a junior in 1998, Valdes led the nation with a 15-1 record with 92 strikeouts and only 18 walks. Combined with his sophomore season, Valdes posted an incredible 28-2 record. He finished his career with a 37-11 mark, tying him for second on UT’s career win list. Valdes shares the school record for victories in a season (15), owns the school record for highest winning percentage among pitchers with at least 10 decisions (.928) and ranks second in career innings pitched at 384.1. He struck out 276 in his career, good for fifth on UT’s list. A member of the SSC Silver Anniversary Baseball Team which was selected in 2002, Valdes graduated from UT with a degree in business management in 1999 and is working in the Tampa area.