The 2020 worldwide signing interval was delayed due to the pandemic, however as soon as it opened in January of 2021, the Pirates set to work. They handed out 16 bonuses of six figures or increased, headlined by Shalin Polanco’s $2.35 million bonus.
Near the underside of that bonus checklist was Esmerlyn Valdez. However whereas he obtained simply $130,000 to hitch the group, it’s trying like his right-handed energy bat is making him the very best of his class.
The early returns had been relatively non-descript, each within the Dominican Summer time League and his first style of the USA in 2022. However one thing began to click on again within the Florida Advanced League in 2023, when he hit .312/.377/.518 to earn a bump as much as full-season ball. A full 12 months in Bradenton in 2024 confirmed some holes (30.6 % strikeout price), however he additionally led the Florida State League in residence runs with 22 at age 20.
However he was simply getting began.
In 72 video games with Excessive-A Greensboro, the Pirates No. 15 prospect hit .303 with 20 homers, and that was not due to a hitting-friendly residence ballpark. Not solely did that earn him a promotion to Double-A Altoona, it received him an invite to the All-Star Futures Sport with organization-mate Konnor Griffin. For the 12 months, he completed with 26 homers whereas ticking down that Ok price to 24.6 %. He’s getting extra swings with the Salt River Rafters within the Arizona Fall League now, with hopefully extra pop on show.
“The house runs [and then] operating the bases, it’s implausible,” Valdez mentioned. “My pals ask me [about the homers] and I say, ‘I don’t know, it’s the simply the sport, it’s me [putting in the work].’”
That work helped him deal with the massive leap to Double-A, which may usually swallow up a prospect upon entry. Whereas his numbers had been extra modest – .260/.363/.409 in 51 video games there – he confirmed a capability to make changes. After hitting simply .196 with Altoona in July, Valdez figured this out to the tune of a .311/.407/.522 line in August.
“The most important distinction was clearly the pitching,” Valdez mentioned in regards to the promotion. “As you go up, you’re going to face more durable pitchers. However because the season ended, I used to be capable of adapt.”
Being round different hitters like Griffin actually didn’t harm and it seemed like they fed off one another as a lot as attainable.
“It feels nice to be round such good teammates,” Valdez mentioned. “They’re all actually good and produce quite a lot of power.”
“He’s at all times simply tremendous optimistic,” Griffin mentioned about Valdez. “He at all times competes, however you possibly can by no means inform if he has had a very good day or dangerous day. He’s simply an general nice dude.”
Pirates hitters within the Fall League
Tony Blanco Jr., 1B (No. 30): Blanco’s dad, Tony Sr., performed professional ball for 17 years and touched the massive leagues briefly in 2005. Junior is 6-foot-7 and has a ton of uncooked energy that he can get to, like when he hit a walk-off homer with an exit velocity approaching 120 mph in August. He missed a very good quantity of the 2025 season with a leg damage and this can be a stiff take a look at for him, provided that he’s not performed above Single-A but.
Will Taylor, OF: Taylor missed a lot of his remaining season at Clemson after breaking his left wrist, so the Pirates needed to give attention to him getting reps after taking him within the fifth spherical of the 2024 Draft. He had a strong debut season throughout two ranges of A ball, ending with 14 homers and 23 steals. He might stick in middle area and turn out to be extra of a viable prospect with one other offensive leap in 2026, with the AFL maybe serving as a springboard.
Pirates pitchers within the Fall League
Derek Diamond, RHP: There was some optimism round Diamond following a strong exhibiting pitching in aid within the AFL a 12 months in the past and when he got here into camp sporting a velocity leap (a fastball as much as 97-plus mph) to go together with his strong really feel to pitch. The pondering was that maybe the transition to the bullpen and the uptick in stuff might result in a shorter aid function. However he landed on the 60-day injured checklist with a shoulder challenge and made simply 13 appearances, so he’s again in Arizona making up for misplaced innings to be on schedule to point out what he can do in 2026.
Joshua Loeschorn, RHP: Again points have actually restricted the 2022 draftee over the past couple of years, forcing him out for all of 2024 and limiting him to 26 outings this 12 months. It’s a below-average fastball velocity-wise, however performs up as a result of it’s invisible and he has an enormous, efficient sweeper to go together with it. When he’s been on the mound, he’s been fairly good, however the Pirates are nonetheless attempting to determine what he’s about with the time missed whereas working to seek out a bit of extra fastball velocity.
Dominic Perachi, LHP: A lefty with a really feel to pitch, Perachi can spin two breaking balls to go align with a four-seamer and a changeup. There have been flashes this 12 months, however the swing-and-miss stuff didn’t present up as a lot as hoped, coming off lacking the primary half of the 2025 season following some elbow soreness.
Carlson Reed, RHP: A 2023 draftee, Reed took a really strong step ahead throughout his first full season of professional ball whereas getting the possibility to begin. He would have jumped to Double-A this 12 months, however a again damage slowed him down and he spent most of his mound time again with Excessive-A Greensboro. Command might push him to the ‘pen finally, however he does have a strong three-pitch combine.
Jaden Woods, LHP: At his greatest, Woods can appear like a future leverage left-handed reliever. He can crank his fastball up into the higher 90s with a wipeout slider. However he’s not been capable of finding consistency, particularly command-wise over the previous two seasons in Double-A, however the Pirates don’t need to give up on the arm energy and pure stuff.
