Esmerlyn Valdez Is a Unicorn… But the Pirates Still Need More

Esmerlyn Valdez has emerged as one of the most important pieces of the Pirates’ lineup, providing something that has become increasingly rare across baseball: legitimate right-handed power.

Alex Stumpf looks at what has made Valdez’s rookie season so encouraging, why his .541 slugging percentage stands out among right-handed hitters, and the concerns that remain with his strikeout and whiff rates. Even if Valdez is penciled into the 2027 lineup, Pittsburgh still needs to find another right-handed bat.

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