Esmerlyn Valdez was with Class AAA Indianapolis in Toledo, getting ready for a game when manager Eric Patterson called the whole team together.
Valdez, Patterson told the team, would be meeting the Pirates in Toronto for his major-league debut,
"That’s where he broke the news," Valdez said via interpreter and major-league coach Stephen Morales. "In front of everybody."
The first thing Valdez did was call his mother, who answered her phone in the middle of a beauty salon.
"She gave me some really good words," Valdez said. "She was really excited."
Valdez said that he anticipated making his debut this season, but didn't think it'd happen so soon. Now that he's here, he's "just going to do my job, help the team win and continue to be the best version of myself."
Valdez thanked the Pirates at the start of his availability for making that call, and said how grateful he is for the opportunity. And now that he's here, he's looking forward to two more experiences aside from the debut itself.
"Just to see myself in (the video game) 'MLB: The Show,' and have my own big league baseball card," he said with a grin.
THE ASYLUM
Valdez grateful for opportunity
Esmerlyn Valdez was with Class AAA Indianapolis in Toledo, getting ready for a game when manager Eric Patterson called the whole team together.
Valdez, Patterson told the team, would be meeting the Pirates in Toronto for his major-league debut,
"That’s where he broke the news," Valdez said via interpreter and major-league coach Stephen Morales. "In front of everybody."
The first thing Valdez did was call his mother, who answered her phone in the middle of a beauty salon.
"She gave me some really good words," Valdez said. "She was really excited."
Valdez said that he anticipated making his debut this season, but didn't think it'd happen so soon. Now that he's here, he's "just going to do my job, help the team win and continue to be the best version of myself."
Valdez thanked the Pirates at the start of his availability for making that call, and said how grateful he is for the opportunity. And now that he's here, he's looking forward to two more experiences aside from the debut itself.
"Just to see myself in (the video game) 'MLB: The Show,' and have my own big league baseball card," he said with a grin.
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