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Esmerlyn Valdez delivered the biggest swings in the Pirates’ series finale against the Phillies, but his recent production is becoming about more than one good game.
Alex Stumpf explains why Valdez has earned an extended opportunity as an everyday player, the improvements he is already showing at the plate and why the Pirates cannot justify giving Marcell Ozuna more at-bats right now. Could Valdez simply take hold of an outfield job and keep it for the rest of the season?
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"The Pirates Can’t Take Esmerlyn Valdez Out of the Lineup" is an episode of North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast. Runtime 17 min. Published July 3, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.