Ever since he began taking part in baseball, Esmerlyn Valdez’s favourite participant has been José Bautista. Extra particularly, the legendary bat flip he tossed after his pivotal house run of the 2015 ALDS, a second he dare not attempt to recreate.
“They will take me out of the sport if I try this,” Valdez joked over Zoom final week, through interpreter Juan Guerra.
There are some similarities between the Pirates’ prospect and the retired outfielder. Each are Dominican outfielders. Whereas Valdez doesn’t bat flip on the sphere, his social media presence is an extension of his joyous method to the sport, celebrating his teammates, group and every of the 26 house runs he hit between Excessive-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona.
And like they did with Bautista a few a long time in the past, the Pirates enter this winter needing to make a roster determination with Valdez. Do they add him to the 40-man roster, or do they expose him to the Rule 5 Draft?
If the Pirates don’t defend him, it appears doubtless somebody will take a flyer on their MLB Pipeline-ranked No. 15 prospect. This previous season seemed like a breakout marketing campaign, as he reduce his strikeout price by six factors (30.6 % in Single-A Bradenton, 24.6 % in 2025) whereas slashing a wholesome .286/.376/.520. It was a efficiency that earned him the group’s Willie Stargell Slugger of the 12 months throughout its Minor League awards.
If that wasn’t spectacular sufficient, his displaying within the Arizona Fall League actually has been. He’s gone deep eight occasions, probably the most of any participant within the desert. He’ll get one other probability to point out off that pop Saturday as a part of the League’s Residence Run Derby. Pirates No. 30 prospect Tony Blanco Jr. will be a part of him.
“I needed to thank the Pirates for the chance of being within the Fall League, so I need to characterize the Pirates and characterize myself and wish folks to recollect my title,” Valdez mentioned.
Proper now, the safer guess is that Valdez has his contract chosen and is added to the roster. With that mentioned, there’s a degree of threat assumed each time a group offers a roster spot to somebody who hasn’t performed above Double-A.
Assuming he reveals he’s Main League prepared subsequent yr, there are a pair methods Valdez may doubtlessly match into subsequent yr’s group. The Pirates want to choose up no less than one outfielder this winter, however he may no less than be depth till a possibility arises. Valdez may additionally play some first base. Spencer Horwitz mashed right-handers final yr (.283 batting common, .813 OPS), however struggled towards southpaws in his restricted pattern measurement (.186 common, .593 OPS). Valdez may take some reps there to have the platoon benefit.
After all, it’s a fairly daring assumption to pencil a participant right into a theoretical Main League lineup after they have but to succeed in Triple-A. Valdez began gradual after his midseason promotion to Altoona, however closed the yr sturdy after he adjusted to the upper expertise degree. That’s comprehensible, if not anticipated.
So when may he be prepared for Pittsburgh? Director of teaching and participant improvement Michael Chernow believes “you may by no means have sufficient at-bats,” however that’s extra a basic thought than for Valdez particularly. He was impressed with the expansion Valdez confirmed this final yr — particularly in areas the place they challenged him, like making extra contact — so it’s actually going to return right down to what the outfielder reveals.
“I feel simply usually, you need to see guys play as a lot as attainable as a result of it’s such a tough recreation to play and that transition to the large leagues, it is such a giant bounce for these guys going from Indy to the large leagues,” Chernow mentioned over Zoom final week. “And I feel for these two [Valdez and Konnor Griffin] particularly, everybody’s journey is totally different. Some guys want greater than others.
“The way in which that I give it some thought is simply assessing day-to-day, is the extent that they are at present at is the suitable degree for problem for them, and are they being challenged sufficient to proceed their improvement the best way that we need to, and form of let the participant reply that for us.”
As for Valdez, he’s making ready like Pittsburgh is in his sights for 2026.
“I really feel like I am prepared,” Valdez mentioned. “I am placing the work in. If the group decides to present me the chance, I am gonna be prepared each time they name my title.”
