Shawn Hillegas vs. Rafael Valdez — Career Comparison

Shawn Hillegas built a career as a starting pitcher and Rafael Valdez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Shawn Hillegas posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.61 and WHIP 1.504 compared to 11.12 and 2.294 for Rafael Valdez. By the career numbers, Shawn Hillegas had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.