Pirates Minor League Report: Esmerlyn Valdez Walloping Baseballs

Pirates’ affiliates swung hot bats on Tuesday night, compiling five homers and three wins in four games played. 20-year-old first base prospect Esmerlyn Valdez hit his third homer in the past two games to save the day for Bradenton, tying the game in the ninth inning before a Javier Rivas homer served as the game-winner in extra innings.

Triple-A Indianapolis defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 7-5, with Henry Davis, Liover Peguero, Malcom Nuñez and Matt Gorski all reaching base twice.

The Altoona Curve defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-1, with Jase Bowen’s fourth home run of the season—who finished second in homers in the South Atlantic League last season in hitter-friendly Greensboro, but hasn’t yet found his power stroke in Altoona—plating the winning run. 

The Grasshoppers finished on the wrong side of an 11-10 track meet against the Winston-Salem Dash, scoring a run with one out in the ninth but stalling out there despite having two runners aboard. Maikol Escotto finished a triple shy of the cycle, while P.J. Hilson picked up four singles and a stolen base.

Here are some noteworthy performances amongst the Pirates’ farm system to begin a new week of ball games.

Triple-A Indianapolis (47-52)

SS Liover Peguero

• Game: 2-for-5 with 2 singles.
• Season: .251/.311/.393 with 18 doubles, 3 triples and 8 homers in 88 games.

C Henry Davis

• Game: 1-for-3 with 2 walks.
• Season: .304/.411/.588 with 12 doubles and 10 homers in 40 games between Altoona and Indianapolis.

Double-A Altoona (41-56)

RF Sammy Siani

• Game: 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.
• Season: .253/.325/.406 with 13 doubles, 4 triples and 8 homers in 81 games between Greensboro and Altoona.

CF Jase Bowen

• Game: 1-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .231/.286/.331 with 14 doubles, 2 triples and 4 homers in 81 games.

High-A Greensboro (57-39)

CF P.J. Hilson

• Game: 4-for-5 with 4 singles.
• Season: .236/.307/.430 with 8 doubles, a triple and 12 homers in 71 games between Greensboro and Bradenton.

3B Maikol Escotto

• Game: 3-for-5 with a double and a homer.
• Season: .212/.258/.394 with 6 doubles and 8 homers in 53 games.

Single-A Bradenton (41-56)

3B Javier Rivas

• Game: 2-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .219/.280/.371 with 14 doubles, a triple and 9 homers in 82 games.

1B Esmerlyn Valdez

• Game: 1-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .233/.345/.458 with 15 doubles, a triple and 15 homers in 78 games.