Former Phillie Wilson Valdéz lands coaching role in Nationals organization

While the Phillies haven’t been shy in attempting to pluck talent from the Washington Nationals in recent years, quite a few former Philadelphia employees have landed jobs with the division rivals this offseason.

The latest is former infielder Wilson Valdéz, who the Nationals announced as the infield coach for their Dominican Summer League team Tuesday.

Valdéz — a native of the Dominican Republic — spent parts of two seasons with the Phillies in 2010 and 2011 as a utility infielder. He even filled in at third base for an injured Plácido Polanco in Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS, which turned out to be Roy Halladay’s playoff no-hitter.

However, Valdéz’s most memorable moment as a Phillie probably came on May 25, 2011.

Coincidentally, this game also came against the Cincinnati Reds, just like Halladay’s no-hitter. Halladay even started this game, allowing three runs over seven innings.

But by the 19th inning, Charlie Manuel was out of pitchers and turned to Valdéz, who pitched a scoreless inning, despite facing Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, Jay Bruce and Carlos Fisher.

Valdéz ultimately earned the win when Raúl Ibañez drove in Jimmy Rollins to win the game in the home half of the 19th inning.

Former Phillies hitting coach Joe Dillon has also returned to the Nationals organization, as he’ll now be serving as the minor league hitting coordinator. Prior to a nearly two-year stint as the Phillies hitting coach, Dillon had been the assistant hitting coach for Washington in 2018 and 2019.

Additionally, long-time Phillies second baseman César Hernández inked a one-year deal with the Nationals

back in November.

MORE FROM PHILLIES NATION

1. ‘Forever Grateful’ For Phillies Fans, Roman Quinn Is Running At A Blazing Speed Again
2. Jonathan Papelbon Says That The Most Talented Team He Played On Was With Phillies, Not Red Sox
3. Top 6 Home Runs Of Ryan Howard’s Career
4. Charlie Manuel Says Both Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins Should Be Hall of Famers
5. Chris Wheeler Talks Hall Of Fame Cases Of Rolen, Rollins, Abreu & Schilling
6. Ryan Howard Developed Into An MVP At Reading
7. 2006 Ryan Howard And 2021 Bryce Harper: Two MVPs With Torrid Second Halves
8. Phillies Have Few Realistic Options Available In Center Field
9. Larry Bowa On Bobby Abreu: ‘Eventually, This Guy Should Be In The Hall Of Fame’
10. These 10 Players Have Made The Most Money As Phillies

https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1193428363