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Esmerlyn ValdezIL
RF · Pittsburgh Pirates
| Position | RF |
| Bats/Throws | R/R |
| Height | 6′ 2″ |
| Weight | 234 lbs |
| Age | 22 |
| Birthplace | San Juan La Maguana, Dominican Republic |
| Signed | 2021, Pittsburgh Pirates, International Free Agent, Dominican Republic |
| Signing Bonus | $130,000 |
| MLB Debut | 2026-05-22 |
Contract Status
Service Time
0.000
1/1/2026
Options
3
1/1/2026
MLB FA
2032
2026 Service Time Gained: 0.102
2026 Option Year Used? Yes
Contract
2026 Salary$780,000 (Estimate)
League Minimum2026–2028
Arbitration Eligible2029–2031
Free Agent2032
Statcast
91.1 mph
Avg Exit Velo
114.0 mph
Max Exit Velo
16.6%
Barrel%
47.7%
Hard Hit%
Summary
| G | PA | AVG | HR | RBI | SB | K% | BB% | OBP | SLG | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (MLB) | 72 | 287 | .232 | 17 | 47 | 0 | 37.6% | 14.6% | .345 | .510 | .855 |
| MLB Career | 72 | 287 | .232 | 17 | 47 | 0 | 37.6% | 14.6% | .345 | .510 | .855 |
Last 10 Games
| Date | Lvl | Team | Opp | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-11 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | @ Chicago Cubs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .232 | .345 | .510 | .855 |
| 2026-09-09 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | @ Chicago White Sox | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .235 | .349 | .517 | .866 |
| 2026-09-08 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | @ Chicago White Sox | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .233 | .345 | .504 | .849 |
| 2026-09-06 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | vs Los Angeles Angels | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .233 | .344 | .504 | .848 |
| 2026-09-05 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | vs Los Angeles Angels | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .236 | .348 | .511 | .859 |
| 2026-09-02 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | vs San Francisco Giants | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .239 | .349 | .518 | .867 |
| 2026-09-01 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | vs San Francisco Giants | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .243 | .352 | .527 | .879 |
| 2026-08-30 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | @ St. Louis Cardinals | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .244 | .355 | .535 | .890 |
| 2026-08-28 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | @ St. Louis Cardinals | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .244 | .357 | .526 | .883 |
| 2026-08-26 | MLB | Pittsburgh Pirates | @ San Diego Padres | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .249 | .363 | .536 | .899 |
| Last 10 Total | 36 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 15 | .139 | .225 | .333 | .558 | |||
Stats & Game Logs
| Year | Age | Lvl | Team | G | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | ISO | BABIP | K% | BB% |
|---|
Season
| Date ↕ | Lvl ↕ | Team ↕ | Opponent | AB ↕ | H ↕ | 2B ↕ | 3B ↕ | HR ↕ | RBI ↕ | BB ↕ | SO ↕ | AVG ↕ |
|---|
| Split | PA | AB | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 287 | 241 | 56 | 17 | 47 | 42 | 108 | .232 | .346 | .000 | .346 |
| Recent Performance | |||||||||||
| Last 30 | 70 | 61 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 30 | .164 | .271 | .377 | .648 |
| Last 14 | 28 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | .125 | .250 | .292 | .542 |
| Last 7 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | .222 | .364 | .667 | 1.030 |
| Home / Away | |||||||||||
| Home Games | 135 | 116 | 27 | 9 | 23 | 18 | 53 | .233 | .341 | .526 | .867 |
| Away Games | 152 | 125 | 29 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 55 | .232 | .349 | .496 | .845 |
| Day / Night | |||||||||||
| Day Games | 112 | 99 | 26 | 11 | 27 | 12 | 49 | .263 | .339 | .667 | 1.006 |
| Night Games | 175 | 142 | 30 | 6 | 20 | 30 | 59 | .211 | .349 | .401 | .750 |
| vs Handedness | |||||||||||
| vs Left | 111 | 90 | 21 | 9 | 26 | 21 | 38 | .233 | .378 | .633 | 1.011 |
| vs Right | 176 | 151 | 35 | 8 | 21 | 21 | 70 | .232 | .324 | .437 | .761 |
| vs Pitcher Role | |||||||||||
| Starter | 172 | 143 | 34 | 12 | 29 | 26 | 63 | .238 | .355 | .552 | .907 |
| Reliever | 115 | 98 | 22 | 5 | 18 | 16 | 45 | .224 | .330 | .449 | .779 |
| Runners | |||||||||||
| Bases Empty | 146 | 126 | 28 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 61 | .222 | .329 | .476 | .805 |
| Runners On | 141 | 115 | 28 | 9 | 39 | 23 | 47 | .243 | .362 | .548 | .910 |
| Scoring Position | 77 | 59 | 17 | 5 | 31 | 15 | 24 | .288 | .416 | .661 | 1.077 |
| Batting Order | |||||||||||
| Batting First | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .667 | .667 | 1.000 | 1.667 |
| Batting Second | 34 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 14 | .250 | .382 | .464 | .846 |
| Batting Fourth | 155 | 127 | 27 | 8 | 28 | 25 | 60 | .213 | .342 | .465 | .807 |
| Batting Fifth | 22 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 | .263 | .364 | .526 | .890 |
| Batting Sixth | 35 | 32 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 13 | .250 | .314 | .656 | .970 |
| Batting Seventh | 23 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 | .333 | .435 | .722 | 1.157 |
| Batting Eighth | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .167 | .286 | .667 | .953 |
| Batting Ninth | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Year | Age | Lv | PA | BIP | GB% | FB% | LD% | PU% | O-Sw% | Z-Sw% | O-Con% | Z-Con% | Sw% | Con% | Avg EV | Max EV | Avg LA | HH% | Brl% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17 | R-FCL | 153 | 92 | 35.9% | 31.5% | 21.7% | 10.9% | — | — | — | — | 66.4% | 46.9% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 18 | R-FCL | 122 | 72 | 51.4% | 25.0% | 12.5% | 11.1% | — | — | — | — | 56.8% | 53.5% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | 19 | A | 23 | 11 | 81.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 0.0% | 29.7% | 66.7% | 47.4% | 67.9% | 44.3% | 59.6% | 87.3 mph | 104.3 mph | -9.8° | 45.5% | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 19 | R-FCL | 159 | 106 | 34.0% | 36.8% | 19.8% | 9.4% | — | — | — | — | 63.7% | 55.4% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 20 | A | 436 | 230 | 35.7% | 31.7% | 21.7% | 10.9% | 25.4% | 67.7% | 51.1% | 72.4% | 45.2% | 67.1% | 88.5 mph | 112.5 mph | 16.9° | 40.9% | 11.0% |
| 2025 | 21 | AA | 216 | 131 | 38.2% | 27.5% | 24.4% | 9.9% | — | — | — | — | 43.3% | 72.3% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | 21 | A+ | 316 | 200 | 37.0% | 34.0% | 18.0% | 11.0% | — | — | — | — | 46.4% | 67.9% | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2026 | 22 | MLB | 287 | 136 | 34.6% | 39.7% | 19.9% | 5.9% | 21.0% | 64.8% | 39.9% | 67.4% | 41.3% | 59.8% | 91.9 mph | 112.7 mph | 18.0° | 49.3% | 18.4% |
| 2026 | 22 | AAA | 237 | 143 | 42.7% | 28.0% | 20.3% | 9.1% | 24.1% | 60.5% | 50.8% | 76.4% | 41.2% | 68.7% | 90.4 mph | 114.0 mph | 14.4° | 46.2% | 14.9% |
| MLB Career | MLB | 287 | 136 | 34.6% | 39.7% | 19.9% | 5.9% | 21.0% | 64.8% | 39.9% | 67.4% | 41.3% | 59.8% | 91.9 mph | 112.7 mph | 18.0° | 49.3% | 18.4% | |
| AAA Career | AAA | 237 | 143 | 42.7% | 28.0% | 20.3% | 9.1% | 24.1% | 60.5% | 50.8% | 76.4% | 41.2% | 68.7% | 90.4 mph | 114.0 mph | 14.4° | 46.2% | 14.9% | |
| AA Career | AA | 216 | 131 | 38.2% | 27.5% | 24.4% | 9.9% | — | — | — | — | 43.3% | 72.3% | — | — | — | — | — | |
| A+ Career | A+ | 316 | 200 | 37.0% | 34.0% | 18.0% | 11.0% | — | — | — | — | 46.4% | 67.9% | — | — | — | — | — | |
| A Career | A | 459 | 241 | 37.8% | 30.7% | 21.1% | 10.4% | 25.7% | 67.7% | 50.8% | 72.2% | 45.2% | 66.7% | 88.4 mph | 112.5 mph | 15.7° | 41.1% | 10.5% | |
| R-FCL Career | R-FCL | 434 | 270 | 39.3% | 31.8% | 18.5% | 10.4% | — | — | — | — | 62.6% | 51.8% | — | — | — | — | — |
Statcast FieldingMLB only
| Year | Team | Pos | Inn | OAA | FRV | Range | Arm | DP | Catch | Frame | Throw | Block | Pop | Blk BAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pirates | 1B | 1.0 | — | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | 1B | 1.0 | — | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2026 | Pirates | LF | 49.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | -0.0 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | LF | 49.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | -0.0 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2026 | Pirates | RF | 503.1 | 2.0 | -2.9 | 1.7 | -4.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | RF | 503.1 | 2.0 | -2.9 | 1.7 | -4.6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Arm StrengthMLB only · Avg requires minimum throws (100 for 1B, 50 for OF)
| Year | Throws | Max | Overall | 1B | LF | RF | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Throws | Avg | Throws | Avg | Throws | Avg | ||||
| 2026 | 171 | 90.8 | 86.9 | 1 | — | 20 | — | 150 | 87.4 |
Transaction History
2026-09-12Pittsburgh Pirates placed RF Esmerlyn Valdez on the 10-day injured list. Left hamstring strain.
2026-06-11Pittsburgh Pirates activated RF Esmerlyn Valdez.
2026-06-11Pittsburgh Pirates recalled OF Esmerlyn Valdez from Indianapolis Indians.
2026-05-28Pittsburgh Pirates optioned OF Esmerlyn Valdez to Indianapolis Indians.
2026-05-22Pittsburgh Pirates recalled OF Esmerlyn Valdez from Indianapolis Indians.
2026-03-09Pittsburgh Pirates optioned OF Esmerlyn Valdez to Indianapolis Indians.
2025-11-18Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of OF Esmerlyn Valdez from Altoona Curve.
2025-07-15Altoona Curve activated OF Esmerlyn Valdez from the temporarily inactive list.
2025-07-15Altoona Curve activated OF Esmerlyn Valdez from the temporarily inactive list.
2025-07-11Altoona Curve placed OF Esmerlyn Valdez on the temporarily inactive list.
2025-07-01OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers.
2025-04-04OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers from Bradenton Marauders.
2025-02-261B Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
2024-07-09Bradenton Marauders activated OF Esmerlyn Valdez from the 7-day injured list.
2024-06-29Bradenton Marauders placed OF Esmerlyn Valdez on the 7-day injured list.
2024-03-08OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
2023-08-31OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Bradenton Marauders from FCL Pirates.
2023-03-20OF Esmerlyn Valdez and assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
2022-06-05FCL Pirates activated OF Esmerlyn Valdez.
2022-06-05OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to FCL Pirates.
2022-04-03OF Esmerlyn Valdez and assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
2021-07-11OF Esmerlyn Valdez and assigned to DSL PIT Gold from DSL PIT Black.
2021-01-15OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to DSL Pirates1.
2021-01-15Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent OF Esmerlyn Valdez to a minor league contract.