Valdez shows 'crazy' pop with third blast in as many games
Esmerlyn Valdez gave the Pirates another jolt of power this afternoon, launching a 461-foot home run in producing a third straight game with a home run as the Pirates won, 9-4, against the Reds at PNC Park.
The blast, Valdez’s fifth in 42 big-league at-bats, came on a 2-2 fastball up in the zone in the eighth inning against Pierce Johnson. It traveled deep enough to stand out, even in a game that had already featured plenty of offense and three additional home runs. This is what a 461-foot shot looks like:
Valdez's day included a second-inning book-rule double that scored Nick Gonzales to put the Pirates on the board. He added a sixth-inning single and a seventh-inning walk to his final stat line, but it’s the homer that truly stood out. It was more than just another run on the scoreboard, as it marked the third consecutive game in which he has gone deep, reinforcing the idea that his power is beginning to translate consistently at the major-league level. The 461-foot distance also underscored the raw strength that has made him a player to watch throughout his rise through the Pirates’ system.
"I've never hit a ball like that in my life," Ryan O'Hearn would say after two home runs of his own. "I don't know what it's like."
The home run was the seventh-longest at PNC for a Pirate in the Statcast era (2015) and longest since Oneil Cruz's 462-foot homer into the Allegheny River in 2024. The homer was so compelling that it reminded of another Dominican player in Sammy Sosa, who hit a 484-foot blast out to left-center field in 2002, the longest ever at PNC Park.
Tyler Callihan, who displayed his own power with a three-run homer in the second inning, described his teammate’s talents as "crazy."
"I saw it in Triple-A, I see it BP, he has power like I’ve never seen before," Callihan said. "He can go oppo to the river. I’m not shocked it’s going to happen at some point.”
"It's impressive for one,” O’Hearn said. “Yeah, he's got a lot of power and he's fun to watch. It was cool. I think yesterday, the homer he hit to right field, it didn't even look like he got it and it carried out of here. Definitely got the one today. That's for sure. It was impressive."
The prodigious power and production is nothing new to Valdez, who showcased it consistently en route to being named the 2025 Arizona Fall League Offensive Player of the Year. He put up video game numbers in the fall, batting .368 with a 1.355 OPS, eight home runs and 27 RBIs.
Valdez didn’t just get to the majors because of his power, though. He’s been a solid hitter at every level with a career .261 batting average, .856 OPS and 75 home runs.
“I think he's a good hitter. He's not just going up there trying to hit homers, he's a good hitter," Don Kelly said. "He got out in front of the breaking ball, hit the ground-rule double, got the base hit up the middle, took the walk, and then when he gets a pitch out over the plate that he can drive, he certainly has the power to do that, but I just think he's overall a good hitter.”
Valdez displayed his ability to produce in the minors, made his presence felt with a breakout showing in the Arizona Fall League and is now continuing to build confidence as he makes a regular impact at the major-league level.
"It’s the work that I’ve been doing," Valdez said through interpreter Stephen Morales. "It’s reflecting in the game. I feel more confident when it comes to swinging the bat and my approach."
THE ASYLUM
Valdez shows 'crazy' pop with third blast in as many games
Esmerlyn Valdez gave the Pirates another jolt of power this afternoon, launching a 461-foot home run in producing a third straight game with a home run as the Pirates won, 9-4, against the Reds at PNC Park.
The blast, Valdez’s fifth in 42 big-league at-bats, came on a 2-2 fastball up in the zone in the eighth inning against Pierce Johnson. It traveled deep enough to stand out, even in a game that had already featured plenty of offense and three additional home runs. This is what a 461-foot shot looks like:
Valdez's day included a second-inning book-rule double that scored Nick Gonzales to put the Pirates on the board. He added a sixth-inning single and a seventh-inning walk to his final stat line, but it’s the homer that truly stood out. It was more than just another run on the scoreboard, as it marked the third consecutive game in which he has gone deep, reinforcing the idea that his power is beginning to translate consistently at the major-league level. The 461-foot distance also underscored the raw strength that has made him a player to watch throughout his rise through the Pirates’ system.
"I've never hit a ball like that in my life," Ryan O'Hearn would say after two home runs of his own. "I don't know what it's like."
The home run was the seventh-longest at PNC for a Pirate in the Statcast era (2015) and longest since Oneil Cruz's 462-foot homer into the Allegheny River in 2024. The homer was so compelling that it reminded of another Dominican player in Sammy Sosa, who hit a 484-foot blast out to left-center field in 2002, the longest ever at PNC Park.
Tyler Callihan, who displayed his own power with a three-run homer in the second inning, described his teammate’s talents as "crazy."
"I saw it in Triple-A, I see it BP, he has power like I’ve never seen before," Callihan said. "He can go oppo to the river. I’m not shocked it’s going to happen at some point.”
"It's impressive for one,” O’Hearn said. “Yeah, he's got a lot of power and he's fun to watch. It was cool. I think yesterday, the homer he hit to right field, it didn't even look like he got it and it carried out of here. Definitely got the one today. That's for sure. It was impressive."
The prodigious power and production is nothing new to Valdez, who showcased it consistently en route to being named the 2025 Arizona Fall League Offensive Player of the Year. He put up video game numbers in the fall, batting .368 with a 1.355 OPS, eight home runs and 27 RBIs.
Valdez didn’t just get to the majors because of his power, though. He’s been a solid hitter at every level with a career .261 batting average, .856 OPS and 75 home runs.
“I think he's a good hitter. He's not just going up there trying to hit homers, he's a good hitter," Don Kelly said. "He got out in front of the breaking ball, hit the ground-rule double, got the base hit up the middle, took the walk, and then when he gets a pitch out over the plate that he can drive, he certainly has the power to do that, but I just think he's overall a good hitter.”
Valdez displayed his ability to produce in the minors, made his presence felt with a breakout showing in the Arizona Fall League and is now continuing to build confidence as he makes a regular impact at the major-league level.
"It’s the work that I’ve been doing," Valdez said through interpreter Stephen Morales. "It’s reflecting in the game. I feel more confident when it comes to swinging the bat and my approach."
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