Nearly 2 million people packed the streets of Houston last week to celebrate the Houston Astros’ second World Series Championship, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Game 6. Pitcher Framber Valdez was a key part of that victory, having played six innings during the game with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts. He gave up a single homerun to Kyle Schwarber at the top of the sixth inning. Speaking to MLB Network after the game, he stated the 6^th inning was crucial. With former major league pitcher Pedro Martinez interpreting for him, Valdez said, “I thought the sixth inning was critical for me. I gave up a homer, but I kept my composure and my concentration on the game and was able to make pitches.”

Valdez has been a solid player for the Astros throughout the ’22 season. In September, he pitched his 25^th consecutive quality start for the teams in an 11-2 win over the A’s. He received the win for both of his World Series starts, with a total of 12.1 innings pitched, six hits, five walks, two earned runs and 18 strikeouts. Astros manager Dusty Baker sang Valdez’s praises after the game, saying, “Framber pitched a heck of a game. Nobody talks about it, but man, he was dealing.” Pedro Martinez was equally impressed by Valdez’s performance, praising him for overcoming adversity.

Aside from being a great pitcher, Valdez has expressed the importance of his Christian faith in guiding his life. Valdez grew up in a Christian home and has focused on fulfilling a promise he made years ago. Last December, he spoke about a project he was funding to help build a church in his native Dominican Republic. The 28-year-old pitcher had started attending the church at 14 years old. The church was in poor condition at the time and he made a promise to the church’s pastor, Pastor Antonio, that if he ever reached the major leagues, he would help to rebuild the church. “Right now, I’m fulfilling this goal. I’m very focused on two things – my career and building this church,” Valdez said in an interview with MLBPA. Valdez had personally helped oversee the construction and had spent near $100,000 of his own money in its construction. “People do this for profit and for business,” he said. “I only ask God for good health and blessings for me and my family. I haven’t made a deal with God, ‘If I build you this church, you give me this,’ because I don’t like that. I don’t like feeling like this is a business deal. I’m doing this because I made a promise.” Valdez’s father, Jose Antonio Valdez Ramirez, overcame his fear of flying to watch his son play in person during his first World Series start. “I’m so grateful,” he said later. “I am so happy, happy, happy of what he’s been able to accomplish and proud of him for everything he’s done and to be here in the World Series.”