Esmerlyn Valdez injury highlights Jake Mangum’s quietly crucial role for Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have already spent much of the 2026 season asking their depth to survive injuries to key players. Now they will have to do it again.

Prior to Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs, the Pirates placed rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain and recalled Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Valdez exited Friday’s 12-2 loss to the Cubs after coming up limping on a fifth-inning groundout. He was initially diagnosed with left hamstring discomfort after being helped off the field.

Losing Valdez is significant. Despite some predictable rookie growing pains, the 22-year-old became one of Pittsburgh’s most impactful hitters after rapidly climbing through the organization. Valdez hit .232/.345/.510 with an .855 OPS, 17 home runs and 47 RBI.

Valdez's 37.6% strikeout rate remained a concern, and his production dipped considerably over his final 30 games, but his power and 14.6% walk rate gave the Pirates an offensive dimension they badly needed.

Esmerlyn Valdez injury puts Jake Mangum back in a familiar spot for Pirates

Now the Pirates again turn toward one of the players who has quietly helped hold their season together: Jake Mangum.

Manager Don Kelly said Mangum is expected to receive the bulk of the additional outfield playing time with Valdez sidelined, while Ryan O’Hearn should primarily handle first base and designated hitter duties.

It's hardly a new assignment for Mangum. Earlier this season, when Oneil Cruz missed significant time with a left hand injury, Mangum became Pittsburgh’s primary fill-in in center field. That role asked him to replace one of the most physically gifted players on the roster at a premium defensive position while helping keep a battered lineup functional.

Now the circumstances have changed, but the responsibility is familiar. Pittsburgh has lost Cruz, Griffin, O’Hearn, Spencer Horwitz, Endy Rodriguez and others for stretches this season. Players such as Mangum, Valdez and Jared Triolo have repeatedly been asked to absorb those losses.

That makes Mangum more than merely the next man up following Valdez’s injury. He has effectively become the Pirates’ insurance policy.

Valdez provided considerably more offensive upside, and replacing his power will not be easy. But Mangum’s ability to cover multiple outfield spots, put the ball in play and step into everyday duty without completely disrupting the roster has been one of the understated reasons Pittsburgh survived so many injuries in the first place.

With Valdez now joining that list, the Pirates need Mangum to do it one more time.

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