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Valdez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk, two runs scored and two RBI on Sunday against the Cubs.
Valdez continued to power the Pirates' offense, first delivering a solo home run in the second inning and then an RBI single three frames later. He continues to have an extreme boom-or-bust profile, as he's struck out at a 38.9 percent clip since the start of July. On the other hand, he has eight home runs, 24 RBI and 16 runs scored across 20 games in that span.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Homers again in win
Rotowire
Valdez went 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks and two RBI in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Guardians.
Valdez had a classic three-true-outcomes game, walking twice and striking out twice before launching a two-run shot in the ninth inning. The 22-year-old is now riding a seven-game hitting streak, going deep six times with 15 RBI and eight runs scored during that span. He's slashing a ridiculous .305/.373/.733 with 12 homers, 32 RBI and 23 runs scored across his first 118 major-league plate appearances.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Another three RBI
Rotowire
Valdez went 2-for-8 with a two-run home run, a double and three RBI across both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Valdez made both of his hits count, as he swatted a two-run home run in the first game and then tallied an RBI double in the latter contest. He continues to turn in impressive performances, as he now has a six-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 8-for-24 with five home runs, 13 RBI and seven runs scored.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Huge day in twin bill sweep
Rotowire
Valdez went 4-for-8 with three home runs and eight RBI Saturday as the Pirates swept a doubleheader against the Brewers.
The rookie outfielder went yard twice in the matinee and produced the game-winning runs in the seventh inning with a grand slam off Aaron Ashby, then got the Bucs on the board in the fourth inning of the nightcap with a two-run shot off Shane Drohan. Valdez has now homered in three straight contests and is up to 10 long balls in his first 26 big-league games with 26 RBI and a dazzling .311/.370/.722 slash line.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Pops seventh homer
Rotowire
Valdez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk Thursday against Atlanta.
Valdez took Bryce Elder deep in the third inning for his seventh home run of the season. Though his power production has fallen since he homered in four straight games to end June, he has still looked plenty capable of handling big-league pitching. In Valdez's last nine games, he's gone 11-for-37 with one homer, six RBI and six runs scored. He's also started 10 straight contests.
Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Stays hot in Friday's loss
Rotowire
Valdez went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI in Friday's 9-5 loss to the Nationals.
The rookie outfielder extended his hitting streak to eight games with the performance, a stretch in which Valdez is batting a blistering .552 (16-for-29) with eight extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple and four homers), nine runs and 10 RBI. His current playing time in right field is coming while Oneil Cruz (hand) and Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) are on the shelf, but it's going to be hard for manager Derek Shelton to sit Valdez down if he's still raking when the Pirates' roster gets healthier.
Valdez went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, two walks and two runs Monday against the Phillies.
Valdez took Aaron Nola yard in the fourth inning to record a home run in his fourth straight game. He became the third rookie in Pirates history to homer in four consecutive contests and is the sixth player since 1900 to have a four-game home run streak within his first 16 career big-league games, per Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com. While Valdez was initially stashed on the bench upon his return to the majors in mid-June, it's difficult to envision Pittsburgh taking him out of the lineup consistently at any point in the near future.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Keeps showing off power
Rotowire
Valdez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored Sunday against the Reds.
Valdez checked into the lineup for the third time in Pittsburgh's last four games and continues to make a case for consistent playing time. He began his day with an RBI double in the second inning and then blasted a solo home run in the eighth inning following a lengthy rain delay. Valdez now has a home run in each of his last three appearances and has five long balls across 44 plate appearances to begin his big-league career.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Homers in second straight
Rotowire
Valdez went 1-for-1 with a solo home run Saturday against the Reds.
Valdez was out of the lineup after starting Pittsburgh's last two contests, but he still managed to impact the game off the bench. He entered Saturday's contest as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and blasted a go-ahead solo home run, his second straight appearance going yard. Valdez still has a very inconsistent role in the Pittsburgh offense, but his recent performance at the plate could start to earn him playing time over Tyler Callihan.
The Pirates recalled Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
Valdez went 2-for-16 with a pair of home runs during an earlier stint in the big leagues this season. The Pirates could give Valdez regular chances in the outfield while they deal with the fallout of the Oneil Cruz's absence due to a hand injury. Valdez, 22, has slashed .255/.388/.526 with 13 home runs across 237 plate appearances with Indianapolis this season.
The Pirates optioned Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
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 is not in the lineup for Monday's contest against the Cubs.
Valdez started the first three games for the Pirates upon his promotion and launched his first career hit and home run in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays. However, he will begin Monday's festivities on the bench. Jhostynxon Garcia, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds will patrol the outfield for Pittsburgh.
Valdez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Valdez launched his first career major-league home run off Chase Lee in the top of the sixth inning. It also marked the 22-year-old's first career hit, as he's gone just 1-for-8 through his first three games with the Pirates. While he's been substituted for twice, Valdez has started each game for the big club since making his debut Friday.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-2, 234 lbs
Birthplace: San Juan La Maguana, Dominican Republic
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