Pirates prospect Esmerlyn Valdez joined North Shore Nine fresh off one of the most impressive breakout seasons in the system. The 22-year-old slugger was named South Atlantic League MVP after crushing 26 home runs between Greensboro and Altoona and earned a spot in the 2025 MLB Futures Game, where he represented the Pirates among the game’s top young talents.
In this conversation, Valdez talks about what clicked for him at the plate this year, how he adjusted after his promotion to Double-A, and the mindset that fueled his rise to becoming one of the organization’s most exciting power bats. He also discusses what the Futures Game experience meant to him, how he’s improving his approach against advanced pitching, and what his goals are for 2026.
Watch or listen to the full interview.
North Shore Nine 
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