The Pirates are calling up outfield prospect Esmerlyn Valdez, a source told Pirates Insider Jason Mackey. The club has not confirmed the promotion.
Valdez is the organization’s ninth-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old is hitting .253/.381/.506 with 10 home runs in 46 games this year for Triple-A Indianapolis.
Valdez, a right-handed hitter, figures to bring plenty of pop to the Pirates' lineup. He was named the organization’s Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year following the 2025 season, when he led Pittsburgh’s Minor League system with 26 home runs and represented the club at the All-Star Futures Game.
Valdez picked up where he left off at the Arizona Fall League, bashing eight home runs in 19 games. He will arrive at the Majors on a tear, too, having launched five homers across his past five games at Triple-A.
The Pirates originally signed Valdez as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2021.
Defensively, Valdez has played 34 games in right field this season, though he’s also seen time in left (8 games) and as the designated hitter (4). Last year, Valdez also played 16 games at first base. His flexibility should help the Pirates configure their lineup without Ryan O’Hearn, who landed on the 10-day IL on Sunday with a strained right quad.
In a corresponding move, the Pirates will option outfielder Billy Cook to Triple-A, according to Mackey. Cook has a .380 OPS in 21 plate appearances across 32 games with the big league club this season.
Following their 6-2 victory over the Cardinals on Thursday, the Pirates (26-24) are averaging 4.96 runs per game, which ranked as the sixth-highest total in the Majors.