Pittsburgh Pirates News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

What to Expect from Pirates Outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Add us as a preferred source on Google

What to Expect from Pirates Outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated May 23, 2026 12:31 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

It’s been a great few years in the Minors for Pirates outfield prospect Esmerlyn Valdez, who started 2024 in Low-A. But since then, his power bat has carried him through the Minors. And on May 22, Valdez received the call to join the big-league club before their series against the Blue Jays.

A Look at Valdez

Three years ago, Esmerlyn Valdez hit over .300 in the Florida Complex League but didn’t hit for much pop as a teenager. But over time, that raw power showed up in spades down in the Minors.

During the 2024 campaign, Valdez hit 22 home runs for Low-A Bradenton, putting the now-22-year-old on the map. And last season, the right-handed slugger had a career year, as Valdez hit virtually everywhere he played.

Across 123 games between High-A and Double-A, Valdez cracked 26 regular-season home runs. He added one in the postseason, and then led the Arizona Fall League last year with eight. That year earned him a spot on the 40-man roster.

This year, Valdez cracked 10 home runs with Triple-A Indianapolis. Six of those have come in May in the three weeks he spent in Indianapolis before his promotion. As of May 22, his Barrel% for the month was a gaudy 13.3%.

A monstrous power hitter, Valdez’s weakness in the lower Minors — and that has continued in the upper levels — was the swing-and-miss. Last season, he had a Whiff% above 32% in Greensboro, although that dipped once he moved to Double-A Altoona. For 2026, you can see more of a familiar pattern, as the swing-and-miss rate was high to begin the year. And in May, that trickled down.

However, what was concerning was a Whiff% a tick above 40% on four-seamers in May.

(via New Baseball Media)

As we noted in our 2025 Pirates’ farm review, Valdez has a very pretty swing, one that uses that lower half. And as you can see down below, he can get at those pitches down & in, a place where several of Valdez’s home runs from May came, by the way.

One other note on Valdez was that he cut down the chase between April & May. The month earlier, Valdez sported a Chase% just a tick shy of 30%. But in May, it was a far more stomachable rate of 20.7%.

A primary corner outfielder, Valdez spent most of his Minor League career in right field, with some time in left. Not many thrown-out runners, as Valdez had six assists over 192 contests. He’s also a big man, worth noting because the 22-year-old saw time at first in both 2024 and 2025.

The Pirates officially recalled Esmerlyn Valdez on May 22.

Analysis

Pittsburgh’s been looking for some help offensively, as the Pirates called up outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia earlier in May. Now, the team will look towards Valdez to provide a jolt for an offense that’s been rather top-heavy to this point.

The Pirates are currently without Ryan O’Hearn, who’s on the IL. Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe have been the primary power threats, as those two are the only hitters for Pittsburgh who were in double-digits in home runs as of May 22. O’Hearn was third on the team in home runs (7).

Marcell Ozuna slashed .187/.280/.310 over his first 41 games this season, notable since he has been the team’s primary DH. Even though the Pirates don’t have a massive payroll, and Ozuna is one of the highest-paid players on the team, a good stretch can keep the power-hitting Valdez an option beyond this stretch.

But time will tell whether Valdez can stick at the MLB level.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: