Morning Rundown: Prospect Esmerlyn Valdez to play winter ball
19-year-old prospect put up solid numbers in the FCL during 2023 season.
Pirates’ prospect Esmerlyn Valdez announced on his Twitter page that he will play winter ball in Columbia this year.
Valdez, 19, played most of the 2023 season in the Florida Complex League, putting up a slash of .312/.377/.578 with 16 extra-base hits (six home runs) in 40 games.
He was promoted to Bradenton at the end of the year and played in eight games, putting up a 107 wRC+ despite striking out 39.1% of the time.
Playing in a winter league is a good way for some hitters to get some additional work in, and for Valdez, it’s a chance for him to get some extra at-bats before making the big jump to full-season baseball in 2024.
Valdez will turn 20 years old in January.
He likely won’t be the last player in the organization to head to play winter ball, as it is an excellent opportunity for some.
I talked to Jase Bowen about his time in Australia last winter while I was in Greensboro to end the season. He seemed to have enjoyed his time there, and the added work certainly paid off for him after the season he just had.
Game three of the World Series starts tonight, with things tied up at one after the Diamondbacks won on Saturday.
Brandon Pfaadt will take the mound for the Diamondbacks as he looks to continue his strong postseason run. Max Scherzer will go for the Rangers, and he hasn’t been great so far in two starts.
The 39-year Scherzer has allowed seven earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched.
Just noticed this, but Hunter Stratton is in the Dominican for winter ball. In four innings so far, he's fanned nine.
any word on Tank playing winter ball?