Framber Valdez is ready to step back on the mound, and he’s bringing a new mindset with him. The Detroit Tigers left-hander is set to return from a five-game suspension on Wednesday, May 13, when the team faces the New York Mets at Citi Field. The suspension stemmed from an incident in his last start, where he was accused of intentionally beaning Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story—a charge Valdez firmly denies.
“It was not fair,” Valdez said through Tigers interpreter Carlos Guillen on Tuesday. “I do not consider it was fair. But the suspension is over. I’m going back to the mound to help my team win and do my best to get that win.”
During his time away, Valdez was allowed to work out with coaches on the field before games, but once the first pitch was thrown, he had to leave the clubhouse entirely. It was a lonely stretch for the 31-year-old, who admitted the separation from his teammates was the hardest part.
“I felt pretty bad once I got the news because I had to stay away,” Valdez said. “I felt terrible. I felt sad leaving the clubhouse and leaving my teammates when I had to go back to the hotel to watch games on TV.”
Valdez’s season has been a mixed bag so far. Through eight starts, he owns a 4.57 ERA with 15 walks and 35 strikeouts across 43⅓ innings. But his last outing before the suspension was a rough one: on May 5 against the Red Sox at Comerica Park, he surrendered seven earned runs in just three innings, including three home runs. It’s a performance he’s already revisited on film, looking for answers.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch is keeping things simple as Valdez prepares for his return. “I just want him to come out of it ready to pitch,” Hinch said. “It’s hard being not around the team during games. He’s been able to get his work in behind the scenes, and then he’s had to leave each day. We’ve got him center-focused on the Mets—not making it any bigger deal than it is. But I hope he understands how important he is to us to get back on track.”
For Valdez, the message is clear: leave the controversy behind and focus on the task at hand. With a fresh start against a tough Mets lineup, he’s looking to channel that frustration into a strong performance and help the Tigers get back in the win column.