PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates needed anything offensively in their recent slump, and Esmerlyn Valdez did exactly that.
The rookie right fielder hit a solo home run for the Pirates in the top of the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres in the series opener at Petco Park on Aug. 24, breaking a scoreless deadlock and putting his team up 1-0.
Valdez took on Padres left-handed starting pitcher Robbie Ray and hit a 90 mph four-seam fastball on the outside, sending it 111.6 mph and 414 feet to center field.
That home run helped spark a 2-0 lead for the Pirates in that inning and finally got their offense moving after a rough few games.
The Pirates had struggled from the plate the past few games, going 22 consecutive scoreless innings, tied for their longest streak of the season, and coming off a sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
Pittsburgh's streak started in the second inning of their 4-3 loss to the Dodgers on Aug. 22, as left-handed pitchers Tarik Skubal threw six scoreless innings following that and then Blake Snell threw six scoreless innings in the 4-0 defeat for the Pirates in the series finale on Aug. 23.
Aug 22, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws to the plate in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Pirates then faced their third straight southpaw in Ray, also one of the better left-handed pitchers in the game and he was at five scoreless innings before Valdez led off the sixth inning with his solo home run.
Pittsburgh has struggled massively against left-handed pitching this year, 13-29 overall and 5-12 since the All-Star break.
Valdez's home run also helped the Pirates score another run in the inning, as left fielder Bryan Reynolds walked and then catcher Rafael Flores Jr. hit a double to center field to score him from firts base and double the lead.
The Pirates ended up having to go 12 innings for the 3-2 win, their second-longest game of the season, but that sixth inning played a big role in them finding some success at the plate.
Valdez was on an historic run to start his major league career, with his 14 home runs in his first 37 games the fourth-most in that span.
He then went 105 plate appearances and 82 at-bats before his next home run, with his last coming almost a month ago on July 26 in the second inning of the 8-7 win over the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.
Aug 24, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez (55) runs after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Valdez didn't perform the way he had prior for a long time during that stretch, with seven games without a hit and batting .177/.330/.253 for an OPS of .583 in the 24 games he played between those two home runs.
The Pirates relied heavily on Valdez and his bat, with injuries to the likes of center fielder Oneil Cruz , shortstop Konnor Griffin , first basemen Spencer Horwitz and Ryan O'Hearn over that time.
Pittsburgh also needs Valdez more, as a right-handed power bat that can take on left-handed pitching and help the lineup, which is left-handed hitting heavy.
This home run could get Valdez to showing off his incredible power, which goes to both left field and right field and far beyond what is expected of a rookie who hadn't played above Single-A ball prior to 2025.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/pirates/onsi as Pirates Fans Get Sign of Hope With Esmerlyn Valdez Play .
