Monday was a big day for Esmerlyn Valdez.
MLB named Valdez to the All-Star Futures Game, where the 21-year-old slugger will represent the Pittsburgh Pirates alongside shortstop Konnor Griffin. Valdez reportedly received more good news to start the week.
MiLB Central’s Chase Ford reported that the Pirates are promoting Valdez from High-A Greensboro to Double-A Altoona. The right-handed hitter appeared to confirm the move by responding with a fire emoji on social media.
Valdez didn’t have anything more to prove at Greensboro. He’ll leave with a .303/.385/.592 slash line in 72 games after belting his South Atlantic League-leading 20th home run on Sunday. The first baseman and outfielder also garnered the SAL’s most RBIs (57) and highest weighted runs created plus (171).
While Valdez showcased his strength with 22 long balls last season, that pop came with a middling .226 batting average and 30.6 strikeout percentage at Single-A Bradenton. He’s improved his K rate to a far more palatable 24.5 percent in 2025 while still posting the highest ISO (.289) of his minor league career.
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Valdez is currently unranked among MLB.com’s top-30 Pirates prospects, but an in-season update would likely rectify that oversight if he continues to mash. Bubba Chandler (No. 2) and Griffin (No. 31) are among the five young Pirates in MLB’s overall top 100.
No Pirates player has reached 30 home runs in a season since Josh Bell blasted 37 in 2019, so the organization is hungry for a big bopper. Valdez is showing the potential to one day fill that power void in Pittsburgh.
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