Pirates Top 30 Prospects No. 12: Slugger of the Year Esmerlyn Valdez Has Eyes on Pittsburgh
This is one in a series of stories breaking down PBN’s Top 30 Pittsburgh Pirates prospects.
Not many Pirates prospects had a better season that Esmerlyn Valdez. It’s why he was named the Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year.
The 21-year-old split the season between High-A Greensboro and combined to slash .286/.376/.520 with a system-leading 26 home runs. He also notched 25 doubles, a pair of triples and drove in 86 runs.
Despite a promotion to Altoona on July 1, Valdez was named the South Atlantic League MVP after leading the league in slugging (.592) and finishing second in home runs (20) and extra-base hits (39).
Valdez attributes his successful season to a simple philosophy.
“At the beginning [of the season], I didn’t think about hitting homers or the average. Just to have fun, because when somebody has fun, good things happen,” he said via Zoom through interpreter Juan Guerra.
Valdez has carried over his strong regular season into the Arizona Fall League, where the native of the Dominican Republic is putting together one of the most successful seasons in the league’s history.
A player on the Salt River Rafters, Valdez leads the league in home runs (eight), runs (16), slugging percentage (1.171), OPS (1.794), is tied for first with 16 walks (against only eight strikeouts), second in batting average (.457) and on-base percentage (.623) and third in RBI with 18.
“My main goal was to have a good preparation before going to the Fall League,” Valdez explained. “I wanted to thank the Pirates for the opportunity of being in the Fall League, so I want to represent the Pirates and represent myself and want people to remember my name.”
Between 2024 with Low-A Bradenton, when he hit 22 home runs in 107 games, this past season between two levels and his AFL performance, Valdez has displayed more consistent power than anyone in the Pirates’ system.
As someone who is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter, Valdez appears to be a lock to get added to the Pirates’ 40-man roster, putting him one step closer to reaching the big leagues.
The team’s lowly offense needs a boost in more ways than one, and Valdez is someone who could provide one as a corner outfielder — where he’s spent most of his time along with getting some reps at first base — in the near future.
Whenever his time comes, Valdez says he will be ready.
“I feel like I’m ready. I’m putting the work in,” he explained. “If the team decides to give me the opportunity, I’m gonna be ready whenever they call my name.”
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