Esmerlyn Valdez Stats & Scouting Report

AB	27
AVG	.519
OBP	.682
SLG	1.444
HR	8

Full name Esmerlyn Valdez
Born 01/27/2004 in Peravia, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 181 / Bats: R / Throws: R

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Average

Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: Valdez signed for $130,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2021 and established himself as one of the minors’ more dangerous power bats in 2024, when he slugged 22 homers for Low-A Bradenton. He followed with 26 more in 2025, doing most of his damage at High-A Greensboro before hitting .260/.363/.409 with six homers in 51 games for Double-A Altoona. Valdez made the Futures Game and ranked third among players 21 or younger in homers, trailing only the Mariners’ Lazaro Montes (32) and the Mets’ Ryan Clifford (29).

Scouting Report: With an uphill swing geared toward all-fields damage and easy plus raw power, Valdez makes no secret about his intent in most at-bats. He made some adjustments in 2025 to tap into that power more consistently and raised his 90th percentile exit velocity by nearly 3 mph compared to 2024. Earlier in his career, Valdez’s steep swing path inhibited him from making consistent contact. After modestly cutting down his attack angle and chase rates, he improved his contact rate to a career-best 72.4% in 2025. Valdez will need to prove his plan of attack can work against more advanced pitching. His miss rate still hovered around 30%, and there are concerns that his swing remains vulnerable to velocity up in the zone and sliders away. He can fly open early on his front side as well. Defensively, Valdez offers limited value. He’s a below-average runner with a fringy arm in right field and also saw time at first base, though scouts believe he moves better in the outfield.

The Future: Valdez’s home-road splits and sheer underlying power should allay concerns that his 2025 home run barrage is a Greensboro-aided breakout. Righthanded corner profiles are tough, but his 2025 breakout put him on the Pirates’ map and Triple-A Indianapolis awaits early in 2026.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 65 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40.

Career Transactions

OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Salt River Rafters.
Altoona Curve activated OF Esmerlyn Valdez from the temporarily inactive list.
Altoona Curve placed OF Esmerlyn Valdez on the temporarily inactive list.
OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers.
OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers from Bradenton Marauders.
1B Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.
Bradenton Marauders activated OF Esmerlyn Valdez from the 7-day injured list.
Bradenton Marauders placed OF Esmerlyn Valdez on the 7-day injured list.
OF Esmerlyn Valdez and assigned to Pittsburgh Pirates.