SerpApi.Org
It's easy to forget now that Esmerlyn Valdez has put himself squarely in contention for Rookie of the Year in the National League.
But his first stint in the major leagues this season with the Pittsburgh Pirates didn't go well.
Valdez was called up for five games in late May, and he went 2-for-16. To be fair, those two hits were both home runs, but he also struck out nine times. It was a small sample, but it didn't quite feel sustainable.
He was then sent back down to Triple-A Indianapolis for two weeks, and since he returned, he's been one of the best hitters in baseball.
From his June 11 return, on, these are Valdez's stats:
- .337 batting average
- .404 on-base percentage
- .793 slugging percentage
- 1.197 OPS
- 31-for-92
- 7 doubles
- 1 triple
- 11 home runs
- 29 RBI
- 22 runs
- 11 walks
- 37 strikeouts (104 plate appearances)
Maybe a bit more swing-and-miss than you'd like, but otherwise exceptional.
Did something change? You bet.
Check out how different Valdez's stance looks now than it did in that five-game stint to start his MLB career:
MORE: Full list of Pirates 2026 MLB Draft picks
Batting stances are a lot about the comfort level of a hitter, but they can also make a difference mechanically.
Lower hands for Valdez likely allow him to get his bat to the ball quicker, and to keep the bat head in the zone longer.
He's also not as tightly coiled, which should help with his overall fluidity.
Clearly, it's working, and that's what matters -- but kudos to whoever came up with this, because it has turned Valdez, at least at the moment, into one of the most dangerous sluggers in the sport.
