BRADENTON, Fla. -- While the Pirates’ ongoing Forge High Performance Camp has been geared toward 30 or so Minor League players, equipping them with various development tools, there have been a few MLB sightings around Pirate City.
Endy Rodríguez has been here rehabbing the torn labrum in his left hip. Spencer Horwitz is healthy … but also wasn’t terribly happy with how he returned from a left hamstring strain and concussion, electing to change it up by renting Nick Gonzales’ old house in the area.
The most encouraging scene, however, came late Tuesday morning. While the prospects finished up a workout by chugging protein shakes, Esmerlyn Valdez took batting practice and ran the bases, continuing to demonstrate his return to health after a left hamstring strain ended his season on Sept. 11.
“I feel great,” Valdez said while walking off the field. In English, too.
“Running the bases, hitting … everything feels good.”
So much so, in fact, that Valdez said he’ll leave soon for his native Dominican Republic, where he plans to play winter ball for Leones del Escogido.
It’ll mark the second time Valdez has played winter ball after he suited up for Leones de Barranquilla in the Colombian Winter League in 2023-24, and it should allow Valdez to enter 2027 with plenty of confidence after ending the season on the injured list.
“I want to be ready for next year,” Valdez said. “I have to go play. I love to play. I love baseball. I’m ready.”
After a terrific debut season, Valdez still finds himself with plenty to prove after how his incredible July jibed with what he did the rest of the time.
Overall, Valdez hit .232 with an .855 OPS that included 17 home runs in 72 games. Nobody will complain about that production from someone Valdez's age or with his contract. But he also hit just .121 with a 40% strikeout rate in non-July games.
It was an odd season, to say the least, especially because Valdez still reached base at a decent clip (.317 from Aug. 1 on) and displayed an ability to execute mature at-bats by sticking to his plan. It also added up to 1.4 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs, which equaled that of Konnor Griffin.
The Pirates just need to see more of that elite July power, when Valdez smashed eight homers and collected 14 extra-base hits, helping him garner NL Rookie of the Month honors.
"He’s got some of craziest pop that we have in our organization,” Griffin said of Valdez this past season. “To see him doing this at the highest level, I’m super happy for him.
"I know how it feels to show you can succeed at this level. To do it so consistently like he does, hitting homers, it’s pretty cool.”
Valdez's production dropped off about a month later, but there's still plenty to like about his process, including what was on display Tuesday.
There were a few balls Valdez pulled to left field ... but also plenty that he drove the opposite way. That ability is something he brought out a few different times, including a jam-shot bomb he took to right field at Busch Stadium on Aug. 30.
Along with guys like Oneil Cruz and Griffin, there’s so much easy power to Valdez’s swing. He also has a tremendous attitude and work ethic, hence why he’s so highly regarded throughout the organization and a key piece of the future.
As Valdez took his hacks at Pirate City, a half-dozen or so staffers surrounded the batting cage. The audience will be much larger -- and rowdier -- once Valdez travels home for the winter, and certainly when he arrives back here for Spring Training.
But after a breakout year, one in which Valdez showed his maturity and power and teased that he could be a key piece for the future, he’s not letting any of the noise change his focus.
With the hamstring healthy, he simply wants to play and get back to doing what he loves.
"I've been running, hitting normally and catching the ball in the outfield. Everything has been good," Valdez said, continuing to use the English he's worked hard to improve since signing as an international free agent in January 2021.
“I just want to say thank you to the Pirates, coaches and staff, and the fans. I just wanna keep working and playing baseball. I already can’t wait for next year.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.