The Pittsburgh Pirates have suffered yet another unfortunate injury. First baseman Spencer Horwitz recently landed on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain. Losing Horwitz is a large blow to the Pirates’ lineup. He has been a key figure in their starting nine since 2025. However, while the Pirates will miss Horwitz, it does open the door for top prospect Esmerlyn Valdéz to get a chance at the big-league level.
Esmerlyn Valdéz May Get His Chance with the Pirates
Quick Ascent Through the Minor Leagues
Valdéz moved up the minor leagues at a quick and steady pace. In just his age-21 season last year, he put up a 125 wRC+ over 51 games at Double-A Altoona. He was the 15th youngest Double-A position player to appear in at least 50 contests. Valdéz, in just his age-22 season, started 2026 at Triple-A Indianapolis and ripped the cover off the ball.
The young outfielder batted .255/.388/.526 through 237 plate appearances. Known for his power, he hit 13 home runs with a .271 isolated slugging percentage. That ranks as the 13th best ISO among Triple-A batters with at least 200 plate appearances so far this year. Valdéz’s 17.3% walk rate was also among the highest, coming in as the 11th best. He also lowered his K% down from 24.6% last year between High-A and Double-A, to 21.5% this year at Indy. Overall, he had a .401 wOBA and 138 wRC+ at Indianapolis.
Valdéz was not running into any bad luck, either. He was the only Triple-A hitter with an xwOBA over .400, coming in at .404. His 14.8% barrel rate was also the tenth best. Valdéz’s exit velocity also clocked in at a strong 90.4 MPH clip. However, the biggest weakness in his game was his 30.1% whiff percentage. But there’s no question that when he makes contact, he does damage.
Promising Major League Metrics
Valdéz has had two major league stints in 2026, and his raw stuff has translated well into the major leagues. It’s only been 32 plate appearances, but exit velocity comes in at 93.6 MPH. Not only does he generate plenty of raw strength from his sturdy 6’2”, 234-pound build, but his swing speed comes in at 74.7 MPH. For reference, Shohei Ohtani and Cal Raleigh also have the same swing speed this year. Valdéz only has five hits, but four have gone for extra bases (two doubles, two home runs). He has also made good swing decisions. His chase rate comes in at 26.1%. He also isn’t overly patient. His 69.7% in-zone swing rate is higher than the league average rate.
Esmerlyn Valdez has such easy power 🪄
He’s going to be so so so good
102.7 MPH double, 79.4 MPH bat speed, .540 xBA pic.twitter.com/Zo7AdEIKr4
— Platinum Key (@PlatinumKey13) June 25, 2026
While he is not swinging outside the zone very much and making aggressive swings on pitches in the zone, the swings and misses have followed Valdéz to MLB. His whiff percentage comes in at 43.8%. Overall, he has struck out 16 times with only one walk through his first handful of games in MLB. His swing length is nearly eight feet, making it one of the longest swings in the sport.
Where Valdéz Fits in the Pirates Lineup
Valdéz can play both outfield corners, along with first base. Putting him in right or left field means the Pirates can move Ryan O’Hearn to first base, where his limited range will be better hidden. Valdéz is not a particularly strong defender, either. However, he is much better suited to play right field than O’Hearn is. Still, Valdez needs to play as often as possible. Plus, he can eventually take more playing time away from Marcell Ozuna. The Pirates have had plenty of troubles against left-handed pitching, and Valdéz has hit well against southpaws in the minor leagues. Having him in the lineup could significantly boost their output against left-handed starters.
Valdéz should also play as often as possible because he’s still a young prospect and needs playing time. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline both rank him as one of the organization’s best prospects. The Pirates have an opportunity to see whether Esmerlyn Valdéz can cement himself as a long-term fixture on their roster with Horwitz out, before major trades occur.
Main Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
