WINOOSKI, VT – Wilson Valdez and Josh Labandeira are the 38th and 39th former Vermont Expos to reach the Major Leagues. Wilson made his Major League debut on September 7th when he debuted with the Chicago White Sox. Labandeira made his Major League debut on September 17th with the Montreal Expos.
Valdez played for Vermont during the 1999 and 2000 seasons, hitting .246 with 19 runs and 10 RBI in 36 games for Vermont in 1999 and .266 with 32 runs and 30 RBI in 65 games for the Expos in 2000. Valdez played in a combined 101 games for Vermont, hitting .259 (98-for-378) with 51 runs, 15 doubles, 1 triple, two home runs and 0 RBI.
After playing for Vermont, Valdez stayed in the Expos organization before being released and signed by the Florida Marlins. Valdez was hitting .319 with 36 runs, 11 doubles, two homers and 25 RBI in 66 games for Florida’s Triple-A team in Albuquerque before being traded to the Chicago White Sox on June 17th for pitcher Billy Koch.
Valdez joined the White Sox Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte and hit .302 with 37 runs, seven doubles, two homers and 15 RBI in 70 games. He was promoted to Chicago on September 7th and has played in 14 games for the White Sox since, hitting .276 (8-for-29) with seven runs, one double, one homer and three RBI.
Meanwhile, Labandeira was promoted to Montreal on September 17th and has gone 0-for-3 in three games played. Valdez and Labandeira increase the number of former Vermont Expos to play in the Major Leagues to 39, including 20 during the 2004 season.
Former Vermont Expos in Majors During 2004 Season
Michael Barrett Chicago Cubs
Jason Bay Pittsburgh
Chad Bentz Montreal
Geoff Blum Tampa Bay
Milton Bradley Los Angeles
Orlando Cabrera Boston
Jamey Carroll Montreal
Matt Cepicky Montreal
Nate Field Kansas City
Shawn Hill Montreal
Jorge Julio Baltimore
Josh Labandeira Montreal
Jose Macias Chicago Cubs
Henry Mateo Montreal
Val Pascucci Montreal
Simon Pond Toronto
Jim Serrano Kansas City
Andy Tracy Colorado
T.J. Tucker Montreal
Wilson Valdez Chicago White Sox
