The Pittsburgh Pirates have followed up one major call-up after another. After promoting top outfielder prospect Jhostynxon García earlier this week, the Bucs will call up Esmerlyn Valdez to make his MLB debut, according to MLB insider Francys Romero. Valdez has ascended to become one of the Pirates’ best hitting prospects. Since he was already on the 40-man roster, the Pirates will not have to make a 40-man roster move. However, they will send Billy Cook to Triple-A to make room on the 26-man active roster.
Report: Pirates Promote Power Hitting Prospect Esmerlyn Valdez
From International Signee to Top 10 Prospect
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in the 2020-2021 offseason, Valdez made his presence known in the Pirates’ system in 2024 when he hit 22 home runs with a 131 wRC+ at A-Ball Bradenton in his age-20 season. Last season was when he really took off. He hit 26 more long balls in 529 trips to the plate between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona. His wRC+ between the two levels was 155, the fourth best among any minor league batter with at least 500 plate appearances.
Source: The Pirates are calling up OF Esmerlyn Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis. Valdez, the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect, is batting.253 with 10 HRs and 29 RBIs.
A corresponding move will need to be made to add him to the active roster.@francysromeroFR was on it.
— Colin Beazley (@colin_beazley) May 21, 2026
Valdez performed well at Altoona last season and earned a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis to start the 2026 season. Over his first 194 plate appearances of the year, the young outfielder is batting .253/.381/.506 with a .393 wOBA and 131 wRC+. He already has 10 home runs on the year with an impressive .253 isolated slugging percentage. The slugger is walking at a strong 17% rate, with a K% of 21.1%. His strikeout rate has steadily climbed over the last three years, going from 30.6% in 2024 to 24.6% last year. The DFA of Jack Suwinski ahead of spring training suggested a potential opening for Valdez, and the Pirates are finally pulling the trigger.
What Valdez Brings to the Pirates
MLB Pipeline currently ranks Valdez as the Bucs’ No. 9 prospect, while Baseball America is slightly more bullish, placing him in the No. 5 spot. One thing about him is certain: he can hit for power. Both sites give him a 60-power grade. He makes plenty of good contact, indicated by his 90 MPH exit velocity and 14.4% barrel rate on the year. However, the question has always been if he’ll make enough contact against quality stuff for his power to come into full effect. His hit tool comes with some question marks. Although his K% has improved, his Triple-A whiff rate is 30.4%, and his 72.1% contact rate is about the same as last year at 72.4%.
Valdez also provides some defensive versatility. He is familiar with both outfield corners, as well as first base. Although he isn’t considered a strong defender at any of the three positions, he shouldn’t be a complete detriment either. He is a below-average runner, so his range in the outfield will be relatively limited.
How the Pirates’ Depth Chart Looks Now
Esmerlyn Valdez adds yet another outfielder and first baseman to the mix. He becomes an option for the Pirates to use in an outfield corner and as a first base option when a left-handed starter is on the mound. Valdez could also occasionally spell Bryan Reynolds at designated hitter, depending on how the struggling Marcell Ozuna performs. However, Valdez gets an opportunity to make things interesting with Ryan O’Hearn out for the next few weeks.
It is very exciting to see the Pirates becoming aggressive in their promotions. Two major call-ups in the last week are a promising development for the Pirates. Valdez is one of the Bucs’ most powerful prospects. Hopefully, he can bring that pop to the Pirates’ lineup, especially when there is a left-handed pitcher on the mound. The Pirates will need two of their top prospects, Valdez and García, to keep up their solid start to 2026.
Main Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
