Officially, Valadez only played one-half season for the Flames. However, there is a solid possibility he could ride those three months of baseball all the way to the major leagues. "Lee was really, really good for me," said Valadez after signing with the Indians in Cleveland, Ohio on the Fourth of July. The outstanding catcher says he "was doing nothing" in Pasadena last August. His phone rang and it was "coach (Travis) Watson (Lee assistant baseball coach) asking me if I would be interested in coming to Cleveland, Tenn. and playing baseball for Lee."

Valadez, who played junior college ball at Pasadena City and Glendale C.C. (Calif.), jumped at the opportunity. However, that was just the beginning. The new addition to the Flames had problems transferring some grades and found himself in a battle to ever take the playing field for coach Mark Brew's team. In fact, the regular season was already underway when the gifted catcher finally took Olympic Field this past February.

"Michael has worked very hard in the classroom and on his hitting to reach this first step of his goal," said coach Brew. "Mike's amazing improvement at the plate has continued this summer.  Everyone knows he is a great defensive catcher with a great arm, but his bat in the end is what got him signed."

The Indians decided to offer Valadez an extra bonus after watching him play the past month for the Fayetteville (N.C.) SwampDogs of the Coastal Plains Summer Collegiate League. His club was pitted against and defeated Team Japan in an exhibition game on Monday night. Valadez went 3-for-4 in that contest and picked a Japan runner off second. The Cleveland scouts had seen enough. "They (the scouts) wanted to see how Mike would handle hitting with a wooded bat. He responded by posting a .319 average, including a pair of homers and nine runs batted in after 45 at bats,"  said Brew.

"If he continues to improve at the rate he has, Mike could be around baseball a long time," added Brew. "Catching is one of the premier opportunities to move up through the ranks of professional baseball and if Mike stays injury-free, he should stand a good chance of being promoted.  We wish him the best of luck and look forward to watching his progress throughout the upcoming years."

"I'm very excited and I thank God for this opportunity," said Valadez during a phone conversation. "I also thank God for sending me to Lee. It was a really good experience for me in the classroom and on the playing field." After a slow start at the plate, Valadez finished sizzling hot. His .325 average and 34 RBI in just 50 games was a key reason the Flames won the Region XIII and Atlantic South Super Region and advanced to the NAIA College World Series.

Valadez caught the eye of Indian scout Chuck Barlett while playing at Lee. After being selected in the 26th round by the Indians, Michael decided to wait before signing and play part of another summer in Fayetteville. 

"He was a changed man at the plate this year," said Fayetteville coach Darrell Handelsman.  "I give Mike all the credit for working hard and making himself a better player. I really believe he has a chance to make it far if he continues to work and get better"

According to a Fayetteville release, the part of his game that captivates scouts, players, coaches and fans is Mike's unbelievable arm and footwork behind the plate.  In only three short years as a catcher, he has nearly perfected the trade.  At Lee, he threw out over 50 percent of those that tested his arm.  In Fayetteville, coaches rarely tested his arm.

"I am just really pound of Mike" said Jason Plourde, who brought Valadez to Fayetteville from Glendale C.C. "He has grown a lot since Glendale and I think he has a shot to move up rather quickly in the Indians organization"