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Valdez (hand) will be in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.
Valdez exited Monday's series opener after being struck on the left hand by a pitch, but he won't end up missing a start after he underwent medical testing and was diagnosed with a bruise. The 22-year-old is in a bit of a slump, having gone 3-for-16 with six walks and eight strikeouts over his past six games, but he's been a force at the plate overall in July with a 1.043 OPS through 21 contests.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Avoids fracture
Rotowire
Valdez was diagnosed with a bruised left hand after medical testing Tuesday showed no fractures, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
After being hit by a pitch on the left hand Monday against the Diamondbacks, the 22-year-old underwent a "battery" of tests Tuesday and appears to have avoided a serious injury. Valdez should be considered day-to-day, though it's unclear if he'll be able to rejoin the lineup for Tuesday's contest.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Set for imaging Tuesday
Rotowire
Valdez is expected to undergo additional imaging on his left hand Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Valdez went 0-for-1 before leaving Monday's 3-2 win over Arizona after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, and the Pirates didn't provide many details on the extent of his injury following his departure. He was presumably sent in for X-rays immediately after exiting, though the club evidently wants to send him for additional scans Tuesday. Valdez can be considered day-to-day until more information comes to light.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Exits game after HBP
Rotowire
Valdez was removed during the fourth inning of Monday's game against the Diamondbacks after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Valdez was plunked by a 91 mph fastball from Merrill Kelly in the fourth frame and was in visible pain. Valdez walked off the field with trainers, and the Pirates should have an update on his injury once he undergoes further tests. He was replaced by Jared Triolo, who has taken over at shorstop with Jacob Gonzalez moving to first base and Tyler Callihan shifting to right field.
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Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez: Smacks 14th homer
Rotowire
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.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-2, 234 lbs
Birthplace: San Juan La Maguana, Dominican Republic
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