What is Fernando Valenzuela’s Net Worth?
Fernando Valenzuela, a former professional baseball player from Mexico, has a net worth of $6 million.
Valenzuela started his baseball career in 1977 playing for several teams in the Mexican Central League. However, he gained his fame when he was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers and had an outstanding rookie season, which is one of the most successful in history.
Fernando Valenzuela: Early Life and Career
Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960, in Etchohuaquila, a small town in Sonora, Mexico. He was one of 12 children to Avelino and Maria, who were poor farmers. Valenzuela grew up playing baseball and was scouted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1979. However, he played in the Mexican leagues for several teams before being signed by the Dodgers in 1980.
Fernando Valenzuela’s MLB Career
Fernando Valenzuela made his MLB debut in 1980, winning his first eight games and helping lead the Dodgers to the World Series. He won both the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year Award, becoming the first player to do so. Valenzuela played for six teams over his 17-year career, but is best known for his time with the Dodgers, where he won a Cy Young award, a Gold Glove award, and was selected to six All-Star games. He helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series championship in 1981. Valenzuela’s unorthodox delivery and devastating screwball baffled hitters throughout the league. He finished his career with a 173-153 record, a 3.54 ERA, and 2,074 strikeouts. Valenzuela is also a member of the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.
Valenzuela’s play eventually became inconsistent, and he attempted multiple comebacks before leaving Major League Baseball for good in 1997. He has since played briefly for the Mexican League, but primarily focuses on Spanish-language sports broadcasting and coaching.
Fernando Valenzuela’s Lucrative Pitching Career
In 1987, Fernando Valenzuela made history by signing the richest contract for a pitcher in the league at the time. The Dodgers signed him for three years and $5.5 million, with an annual salary of $1.83 million and a record-breaking $2.05 million in 1988. Over the course of his 17-year career, Valenzuela earned a total of around $17.3 million in salary alone.
Family and Career
Fernando Valenzuela married Linda Burgos in 1981 and they had four children. Their son Fernando Jr. played as a first baseman in the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox organizations.
In 2003, Valenzuela returned to the Dodgers organization as a broadcaster. He became a naturalized American citizen in 2015.
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