Valent has the most career home runs in Pac-10 history (69), and is the UCLA career runs batted in (RBI) leader (219), achieved in only three years of play.[1]
Valent was the Pac-10 Player of the year in 1998. On June 2, 1998, he was selected in the first round (42nd overall) of the supplemental draft by the Phillies.
Of his collegiate career, Valent perhaps prophetically said:
College baseball was fun, but it's a little deceiving because of the aluminum bats. If you hit home runs in college, you aren't necessarily going to hit them as a professional.[1]
In his brief playing career, Valent provided good power from the left side of the plate. A solid pinch hitter and valuable utility man, he was a competent first baseman who could play either left or right field effectively.
On August 31, 2003, Valent was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for catcherKelly Stinnett.
On December 15, Valent was drafted by the New York Mets in the Rule 5 draft.
Most of Valent's MLB playing time was with the Mets. On July 29, 2004, he became the eighth player in Mets history to hit for the cycle, in a game against the Montreal Expos. In late August, Valent had three pinch-hit home runs. During his days with the Mets, he wore uniform number 57 (later worn by pitcher Johan Santana).
On January 12, 2006, Valent was signed as a free agent by the San Diego Padres, but was released on May 14, after playing in 30 games for their Triple-A farm club, the Portland Beavers.
In a four-season career, Valent was a .234 hitter, with 13 home runs, and 37 RBIs, in 205 games.[3]
In December 2008, Valent was named the hitting coach for the Single-A Williamsport Crosscutters of the Philadelphia Phillies organization,[5] but was reassigned to a scouting position in January 2009.[6]
