Cincinnati Reds The
Cincinnati Reds drafted Valaika in the third round of the
2006 Major League Baseball draft, and he started his pro career with the rookie–level
Billings Mustangs. Chris hit .324 with 22 doubles and eight home runs with the Mustangs, and led the
Pioneer League in total bases (143)and hits (89); was second in runs scored (58), RBI (60), and games played (70); and third in extra-base hits (34) and at-bats (275). He compiled a Pioneer League record 32-game hit streak, the longest in the Minor Leagues in 2006. Valaika started 2007 with the Low–A
Dayton Dragons, where he had two 11-game hit streaks. He was the Reds' Minor League player of the month for April. His play earned him the starting shortstop for the East Division in the
Midwest League All-Star game and a spot on the postseason All-Star team. He was promoted to High–A
Sarasota on July 4, where he batted .253 with two home runs and 23 RBI in 57 games. in Valaika spent 2008 with Sarasota and the Double–A
Chattanooga Lookouts. In a combined 129 games, he batted .317 with 18 home runs, 82 RBI, and nine stolen bases. He led all Reds minor leaguers in average and was second in RBI. His performance again earned him the Reds' Minor League Player of the Month for April. He played for the U.S. in the 2008
All-Star Futures Game, and was a mid-season
Florida State League All-Star. He had an 18-game hit streak, which was the second longest in the
Southern League. Valaika received the
Chief Bender Award for Reds' Minor League Player of the Year in 2008. He played for the
Peoria Javelinas in the
Arizona Fall League, where he batted .311 with two doubles, a triple, seven home runs, and 16 RBI in 32 games. On November 20, 2009, the Reds added Valaika to their
40-man roster to protect him from the
Rule 5 Draft. Valaika made his Major League debut on August 24, 2010. In his first career at-bat, Valaika got his first Major League hit - a single off of
Santiago Casilla - on the first pitch he saw. Valaika was also called up for a brief stint with the Reds in 2011 to fill in for the injured
Scott Rolen.
Miami Marlins In 2013, Valaika was one of several
Miami Marlins players verbally assaulted by
hitting coach Tino Martinez, resulting in Martinez's resignation. With the
New Orleans Zephyrs, he hit .235, with 7 doubles, 4 homers, 15 RBI, and 1 stolen base. Before his wrist injury, he played 1st base, 2nd base, 3rd base, and shortstop for the Marlins. He hit .219, with 5 doubles, 1 homer, 9 RBI, and no stolen bases when he was up with the Marlins. He became a free agent on October 1, 2013.
Chicago Cubs On November 17, 2013, Valaika agreed to a minor-league deal with an invitation to Spring Training with the Chicago Cubs. Valaika would add depth to third base with minor-league invitee
Mat Gamel. On August 1, 2014, Valaika was called up to the Cubs in the wake of the team trading
Emilio Bonifacio and
James Russell to the
Atlanta Braves. On August 20, 2014, Valaika hit his first home run as a member of the Chicago Cubs. After the season, he was outrighted off the roster. He re-signed with the Cubs after the season. ==Coaching career==