Ari Valdez completed her MSU Denver playing career and moved right onto the coaching staff in August, 2022.
Among her first year accomplishments was helping her successor at second base, Adriana Bueno, earn the RMAC Gold Glove at the position, just as Valdez had in 2021. MSU Denver was 34-22 overall and 29-13 for second place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2023.
Valdez was the vocal leader of the Roadrunners during her career, and was a starter in both left field and then second base.
She played in 166 games for MSU Denver, starting 149, and batted .289 (103-for-356) with 23 doubles, six homers, 55 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. She batted a career-best .325 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season after batting .323 in 54 games as a freshman. She had career bests of eight doubles, four homers and 22 RBIs as a senior in 2022, and she earned an RMAC Gold Glove for her fielding prowess at second base in 2021.
Her academic honors include being named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete as well as a D2ADA Academic Achievement Award winner and a three-time selection to the Academic All-RMAC honor roll.
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