The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Konnor Griffin to a franchise record contract at the beginning of this season, but it could be another Buccos rookie that ends up stealing the limelight.
Pirates’ rookie Esmerlyn Valdez has emerged as one of the most exciting rookies in baseball, and has been a big contributor for Pittsburgh since his promotion in June. According to FanDuel SportsBook the 22-year-old outfielder currently has the third best odds to win the National League Rookie of the Year, sitting behind
just JJ Wetherholt and Sal Stewart with +1000 odds.
Valdez impressed in Spring Training with the Buccos but was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in March. He would receive a call up towards the end of March before being optioned back down less than a week later. Valdez has been unbelievable since his latest call up on June 11 however, and has been a key part of the Pirates’ lineup since then.
Few players on the Buccos have been better sluggers since Valdez joined the team. In 41 games he’s smashed 14 home runs, and has been a very efficient hitter at the plate as well. He’s currently slashing .277/.371/.664 with a 1.035 OPS. At just 22-years-old Valdez has an approach that looks like a seasoned pro. He’s tied for the fourth most homers on the Pirates, but has done it in a fraction of the time as the other top hitters on the squad. Oneil Cruz also has 14 homers, but played in 23 more games than Valdez.
As a defender, Valdez has seen the most time in right field, and has been lights out in that corner of the outfield. He currently holds the distinction of having a perfect fielding percentage with 55 put outs between right and left field. Having Valdez in right field has also allowed Ryan O’Hearn to play in his natural position more often, with his move back to first base benefitting the whole squad.
The Pirates are better off with Valdez as a key part of the lineup, as the team has gone 22-17 when he’s a part of the game. Few rookie batters have had a hotter streak at the plate this season, and Valdez could emerge as the favorite in the NL ROTY race if he continues to contribute at such a high level.
