Pirates’ Esmerlyn Valdez on Unbelievable Hot Streak in AFL
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Esmerlyn Valdez is tearing up the Arizona Fall League.
The 21-year-old finished Sunday’s 11-3 win for the Salt River Rafters over the Glendale Desert Dogs 3 for 4 with two home runs, a double, four RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Valdez has played in 10 games for the Desert Dogs and has 10 hits in 20 at-bats. SEVEN of those 10 hits have been home runs, and the right-handed slugger has already driven in 13 runs. If those numbers weren’t impressive enough, Valdez has drawn 13 walks and owns a .500/.686/1.600 batting line. That’s a 2.286 OPS.
Valdez leads the AFL in home runs, walks, slugging percentage and OPS. He’s second in batting average and on-base percentage and ranks third in RBI.
Valdez’s seven home runs are already tied for 14th in AFL history and there are still 18 games remaining on the schedule for Salt River.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Valdez signed with the Pirates in January 2021. He split the 2025 season between the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers and the Double-A Altoona Curve.
In 72 games with Greensboro to start his season, Valdez hit .303/.385/.592 with 18 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs and 57 RBI. He totaled 51 games with the Curve after his promotion and slashed .260/.363/.409 with seven doubles, a triple, six home runs and 29 RBI.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now has Valdez as our 12th-best Pirates’ prospect.
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