Top Pirates Prospect Earns All-Star Honors

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have seen one of their prospects excel in the Arizona Fall League and receive recognition for it.

The Arizona Fall League named its All-Stars for their annual Fall Star Game, with outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez serving as the lone Pirates representative. The All-Star Game takes place at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. on Nov. 9, with first pitch set for 8 p.m. E.T.

Esmerlyn Valdez Excelling in Arizona Fall League

Valdez has dominated during his time in the Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters, serving as one of the best hitters.

He has slashed .392/.534/.922 for an OPS of 1.456 in 17 games, with 20 hits in 51 at-bats, three doubles, eight home runs, 26 RBIs and 18 walks to 12 strikeouts.

Valdez leads the Arizona Fall League in home runs, three more than the next player in Scottsdale Scorpions catcher Chris Suero at five home runs.

He also ranks first in slugging percentage and RBIs, second in OPS, tied for second in walks, third in on-base percentage, fifth in batting average, tied for sixth in runs scored and tied for 12th in hits.

Valdez earned Arizona Fall League Hitter of the Week for Week 2, slashing .615/.727/1.846 for an outstanding 2.573 OPS, with five home runs, 11 RBIs, seven walks and 24 total bases. 

He led the Arizona Fall League in home runs, slugging percentage, OPS and total bases, tied for the lead with eight hits, while ranking second in batting average, on-base percentage, RBIs and walks. 

Valdez reached base in 15 of his 24 plate appearances and had his best game of the season vs. the Desert Dogs on Oct. 19, where he hit two home runs and finished with four RBIs in the 11-3 win for the Rafters. 

He also suffered a wrist injury, but only missed three games, before returning back to play for Salt River.

Valdez will also represent the Pirates at the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby, alongside fellow prospect in Tony Blanco Jr., which takes place at the same stadium on Nov. 8 at 8:30 p.m. E.T.

Valdez has Breakout Campaign in 2025

There aren't many Pirates prospects that had a better season than Valdez did in 2025, moving him up to the 15th ranking in the farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.

He started at High-A Greensboro this season, serving as one of the best prospects in the South Atlantic League. He slashed .303/.385/.592 for an OPS of .977 in 72 games, with 84 hits, 18 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs, 57 RBIs and 31 walks to his 77 strikeouts.

Valdez led the South Atlantic League in seven statistical categories at the time of his promotion to Double-A Altoona on July 1, including hits, home runs, RBIs, batting average, slugging percentage and OPS, plus ranking tied for first in doubles and 11th in on-base percentage, which earned him South Atlantic League MVP honors at the end of the season.

His play also put him in the Futures Game, featuring the best prospects in baseball. He and Altoona teammate Konnor Griffin, the top prospect in baseball, represented the Pirates and played for the National League.