2026 Stats
AVG
.125
HR
2
RBI
5
R
2
SB
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
Valdez clubbed 26 homers in 123 games across High-A and Double-A before hammering eight long balls in 19 Arizona Fall League games to cap his breakout campaign. The righty-hitting slugger who turns 22 this offseason is limited to left field and first base, so he'll need to really rake to get everyday playing time. Valdez had 19 walks and 12 strikeouts in the hitter-friendly AFL, and his contact rate and swinging-strike rate improved after his bump from High-A to Double-A, so he may be getting better as a pure hitter. He could be a 30-homer hitter who bats fourth or fifth for the Pirates and is just a slight batting average and OBP liability in fantasy, but he may spend most or all of 2026 honing his hitting chops in the upper levels of the minors. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year contract with the Pirates in March of 2026.
Demoted to Indianapolis
The Pirates optioned Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Analysis
Valdez appeared in five games for the Pirates during his first career stint in the majors, going 2-for-16 with a pair of homers, five total RBI and nine strikeouts. Pittsburgh presumably wasn't satisfied with the 22-year-old's poor strikeout rate, so he'll return to Triple-A while the team brings up utility man Tyler Callihan to fill the open spot on the bench.
Valdez appeared in five games for the Pirates during his first career stint in the majors, going 2-for-16 with a pair of homers, five total RBI and nine strikeouts. Pittsburgh presumably wasn't satisfied with the 22-year-old's poor strikeout rate, so he'll return to Triple-A while the team brings up utility man Tyler Callihan to fill the open spot on the bench.
Batting Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
2026
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
1
1
1
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
1
1
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2024
+114%
OPS vs LHP
2026
+114%
OPS vs LHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | 1.133 | 6 | 1 | 3 | .200 |
| Since 2024vs Right | .530 | 12 | 1 | 2 | .091 |
| 2026vs Left | 1.133 | 6 | 1 | 3 | .200 |
| 2026vs Right | .530 | 12 | 1 | 2 | .091 |
| 2025vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2024
Even Split
2026
Even Split
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | .722 | 9 | 1 | 3 | .125 |
| Since 2024Away | .722 | 9 | 1 | 2 | .125 |
| 2026Home | .722 | 9 | 1 | 3 | .125 |
| 2026Away | .722 | 9 | 1 | 2 | .125 |
| 2025Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Minor League Left/Right Batting Splits (AAA)
Since 2024
+29%
OPS vs LHP
2026
+67%
OPS vs LHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | 1.057 | 47 | 3 | 7 | .326 |
| Since 2024vs Right | .820 | 146 | 7 | 22 | .226 |
| 2026vs Left | 1.047 | 47 | 3 | 7 | .326 |
| 2026vs Right | .627 | 146 | 7 | 22 | .226 |
| 2025vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Stat Review
How does Esmerlyn Valdez compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.22BB Rate
11.1%K Rate
50.0%BABIP
.000ISO
.375AVG
.125OBP
.222SLG
.500OPS
.722wOBA
.310Exit Velocity
87.2 mphHard Hit Rate
42.9%Barrels/PA
0.0%Expected BA
.033Expected SLG
.098Sprint Speed
21.6 ft/secGround Ball %
42.9%Line Drive %
0.0%Fly Ball %
57.1%Prospect Rankings History
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Additional Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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More Fantasy News
Exiting starting nine
Valdez is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Cubs.
Analysis
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Hits first career homer
Valdez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Analysis
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Hitting seventh in MLB debut
Valdez will start in right field and bat seventh Friday in Toronto in his major-league debut.
Analysis
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Promoted to big leagues
The Pirates recalled Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Analysis
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Dismissed from big-league camp
The Pirates optioned Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Looking great in AFL
Valdez is one of several prospects who have stood out in the Arizona Fall League, according to Keith Law of The Athletic.
Analysis
Valdez routinely made hard contact and was able to showcase his power against high velocity. He can hit for both power and average, according to Law, who rated him as "the best offensive performer I saw" in the AFL. Valdez is projected to play either as a first baseman or left fielder once he reaches the majors, so his value will come almost entirely from what he can do at the plate.
Valdez routinely made hard contact and was able to showcase his power against high velocity. He can hit for both power and average, according to Law, who rated him as "the best offensive performer I saw" in the AFL. Valdez is projected to play either as a first baseman or left fielder once he reaches the majors, so his value will come almost entirely from what he can do at the plate.