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The Pittsburgh Pirates' farm system is well represented at the Arizona Fall League this year, with eight prospects – three hitters and five pitchers – on the roster for the Salt River Rafters.
The Rafters kicked off their season Tuesday with a 7-3 win over the Glendale Desert Dogs that saw Esmerlyn Valdez, the Pirates' No. 15 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, hit a solo homer on the off of Toronto Blue Jays prospect Alex Amalfi in the bottom of the third inning. But more on that later.
Fellow power-hitting Pirates prospect Tony Blanco Jr. also appeared in Tuesday's game as a pinch hitter, but he flied out and grounded out in each of his at-bats. Right-hander Derek Diamond came in to pitch the sixth inning and gave up a walk and an unearned run that tied the game at 3-3 before the Salt River bats broke out to pull away with the victory.
Pirates prospect Esmerlyn Valdez continues power tear in Arizona Fall League debut
The group of Pirates prospects playing in the Arizona Fall League is headlined by Valdez, who enjoyed a breakout 2025 season split between High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona. His solo home run on Tuesday marked a continuation of the power he displayed during a 26-homer campaign that earned him a midseason promotion.
In 72 games with High-A Greensboro this season, Valdez hit .303 with 20 homers before making the jump to Double-A and earning an invitation to the 2025 All-Star Futures Game. His production was a bit more modest at Double-A, hitting .260 in 51 games, but he had a scorching August in which he slashed .311/.407/.522.
Esmerlyn Valdez 💥
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 7, 2025
The @Pirates' No. 15 prospect, who belted 26 homers in the Minors this season, launches his first of the AFL.
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/9nL0oZhWVh pic.twitter.com/vbnOfMa9rR
Checking in on all of the Pirates prospects playing in the Arizona Fall League
Joining Valdez at the Arizona Fall League this year are fellow Pirates hitting prospects Blanco and Will Taylor.
Blanco, the Pirates' No. 30 prospect, is an Oneil Cruz type with a 6-foot-7 frame and tons of raw power. He missed a significant portion of the 2025 season with a leg injury, and he has yet to play above the Single-A level. Taylor, the Pirates' fifth-round pick in 2024, had a solid debut season in which he hit 14 homers and swiped 23 bags across two levels of A-ball.
In addition to Diamond, pitching prospects Joshua Loeschorn, Dominic Perachi, Jaden Woods and Carlson Reed are representing the Pirates at the Arizona Fall League. All should make it into games for Salt River in the coming days.
For a rebuilding organization like Pittsburgh that still needs to identify which young players can become legitimate major league contributors, the Arizona Fall League serves as a critical development stage. It gives the Pirates a chance to stretch their best young talent, refine weaknesses and make informed offseason roster choices – all while exposing players to elite competition that may even speed up their path to Pittsburgh.