Esmerlyn Valdez and Tony Blanco, along with uber-talent Konnor Griffin, just may be the Pittsburgh Pirates’ prospects to finally plug the team back in to the power grid. It has been decades since the feared Lumber Company lineup of long-ball hitters pleased Pirates fans.
Valdez and Blanco are belting tape-measure homers this month in the Arizona Fall League from the right side of the plate much like Dave Parker and Willie Stargell did from the left side years ago in Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH: Dave Parker, left, and Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates during player introductions before Game 4 of the 1979 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles at Three Rivers Stadium on Oct. 13, 1979. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
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Parker and Stargell got the Pirates to multiple playoff appearances. Stargell won two World Series; Parker, one.
Right now, Valdez and Blanco are just hoping to hit their way to Pittsburgh. Along with top prospect Konnor Griffin and superstar pitcher Paul Skenes, their ultimate goal is to be the nucleus that breaks a World Series drought that now spans 46 years.
Eric Patterson, manager of the AFL’s Salt River Rafters, thinks they are on the right path.
“When you have that power tool there’s always high hopes,” said Patterson of the developing dynamic duo before a game this week.
Blanco’s Bashing
Blanco missed much of the 2025 season with a lower leg injury. Still he hit eight homers in only 30 games in the low minors.
TALKING STICK, AZ: Tony Blanco Jr. of the Salt River Rafters bats against the Peoria Javelinas at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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The hulking 20-year-old first baseman signed for $900,000 as an international free agent in 2022 from the Dominican Republic even though he was born in Boston. That was when his father Tony was in the minors, working his way up to a 56-game stint in 2005 with the Washington Nationals.
Dad was a decent hitter, but at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds did not have the dynamic strength of junior. Pop played 17 years in the minors or Japan, totaling 327 homers and 1,090 RBI with a .270 average.
Junior stands 6-7 and is politely listed at 250 pounds. He looks more massive, especially when he trundles around the bases after a mighty poke – such as the 464-foot blast launched Oct. 16.
“When he gets a hold of it it goes and is exciting to watch,” Patterson said.
“For Tony, it’s about coming out here and getting some at bats against good velocity and good breaking balls. He generally controls his ABs pretty well and doesn’t really chase a whole lot although there are periods when he will. I think that’s true of many power hitters.
“Out here, the tendency for a lot of guys is to try to go 5-for-3 to make up for lost at bats. We try to stress the importance of getting a good AB. Whether it results in a barrel or a walk or a productive out those are all good things.”
On Thursday, it was barrel time once again, with a moon shot homer to left-center.
Patterson is slightly familiar with both young sluggers. As bench coach of the Pirates’ Triple-A team at Indianapolis, he has seen them at spring training camp in Bradenton, FL. He understands what the organization expects from each player and what it wants them to accomplish.
Valdez On A Tear
“This is my first look at Esmerlyn really up close,” Patterson said. “I like that he does a really professional job of getting an AB. He goes up there with a plan and pretty much sticks to it.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Esmerlyn Valdez of the Salt River Rafters rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium on Oct. 15, 2025. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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“Right now when they make mistakes he doesn’t miss them. His chase rate has been very low. When he gets a ball up in the zone he’ll drive it but he also will take an outside pitch the other way.”
Valdez signed for $130,000 in 2021 from the Dominican Republic. When the fall season started, the 21-year-old pounded the ball like a guy worth 100 times that.
In his first 11 games, he had eight homers and 18 RBI, scoring 16 runs with 15 hits in 29 at-bats. He did it with patience at the plate, too: 15 walks to five strikeouts.
He hit two in a game, one to left-center, and one to right-center, at Goodyear Ballpark.
Valdez missed a couple games earlier this month with a sore wrist. He has not homered since returning. The 6-2, 185-pounder also misplayed a ball or two in right field.
“We’re working with them in all areas, not just hitting,” Patterson said. “Everybody likes to hit. You’ve got to put in the extra work in the field, too. We’re doing a lot of that in pregame out here.”
Keeping It Going
While Blanco is getting back to form after missing time, Valdez is building on a breakout year
He dominated the High-A South Atlantic League in 72 games for Greensboro, batting .303 with 20 homers, 18 doubles and 57 RBI. He led the league in seven statistical categories when he was promoted to Double-A. The numbers he had were enough to be named league MVP anyway.
In 51 games for Altoona of the Double-A Eastern League, Valdez hit .260 with 7 doubles, a triple, 6 homers and 29 RBI. After batting .196 with no homers in July, he adjusted to bat .311 with all his homers in August.
His biggest game for the Curve came in the playoffs when he drove in five runs in an 11-5 win over the Erie Seawolves, the prospect-packed affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.
Make It A Terrific Trio
Valdez went to the Futures Game that features the best prospects in baseball. So did his Altoona teammate Konnor Griffin, rated the No. 1 prospect overall by MLB Pipeline.
ATLANTA, GA: Konnor Griffin of the Pittsburgh Pirates watches batting practice at the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on July 12, 2025. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Griffin is not in Arizona, getting a well-deserved rest after a spectacular pro debut season. Signed for $6.5 million after being the ninth overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the shortstop/outfielder jumped three levels. He was named the best hitting prospect of the year.
Overall, the 6-4, 225-pounder displayed superstar skills, batting .333 with 21 homers, 23 doubles, 94 RBI and 65 stolen bases in 122 games.
He could be what Roberto Clemente was to Stargell and Bill Madlock was to Parker. Clemente won four batting titles in his Hall of Fame career with Pittsburgh. Madlock also won four, two of them with the Pirates.
No question these Pittsburgh Pirates’ prospects provide hope for the long-suffering team.