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Pirates Breakout Rookie Feels Healthy After End of Season Injury
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- Pirates Breakout Rookie Feels Healthy After End of Season Injury
One of the biggest storylines when looking back on the Pittsburgh Pirates ' 2026 season was the surprise breakout from rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez.
The 22-year-old started the season as a promising prospect in Pittsburgh's farm system, but is now considered to be one of the staples of the team moving forward.
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Unfortunately, Valdez's season didn't end on a high note. He felt something in his leg during a game against the Chicago Cubs in the middle of September and was added to the injured list the next day , ending his season prematurely.
The good news is that Valdez doesn't expect this injury to affect his offseason goals or work. MLB.com's Jason Mackey recently reported that the rookie resumed baseball activities down at Pittsburgh's performance camp in Florida.
Valdez said he feels great, including running the bases and hitting. This is a great sign for Valdez and the Pirates, since the offseason just got underway with the World Series ending Wednesday night.
"I've been running, hitting normally and catching the ball in the outfield. Everything has been good," Valdez said .
Sep 9, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez (55) hits a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Now, Valdez can focus on improving his game and preparing for the 2027 season rather than rehabbing what could have been a serious injury.
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One way Valdez will test his hamstring's stability and improve his game is by participating in the Dominican Winter League.
Valdez's final numbers for the 2026 season were more than impressive. He appeared in 72 games for the Pirates and ended with a .855 OPS, including 17 home runs and 14 doubles. The power in the right-handed hitter is real. Valdez logged an average exit velocity of 92 mph, a barrel rate of 19.9 percent, and a hard-hit rate of 49 percent, all of which ranked well above league average.
However, Valdez did have a tendency to punch out, with a strikeout rate of 37.6 percent and a whiff rate of 40.2 percent.
This is something the Pirates will definitely want Valdez to work on as long as he's competing in live game action down in the Dominican Republic this offseason.
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As long as Valdez is healthy this winter, he's setting himself up to have a big 2027 season and something that Pittsburgh can look forward to for years to come.
Pirates Offseason News:
Pittsburgh is officially eligible to offer its top free agent, Brandon Lowe, the qualifying offer. The Pirates must make this move to retain arguably the best bat in their lineup for the 2026 season.
