Pirates' forgotten prospect is quietly following the same path as Esmerlyn Valdez

The Pittsburgh Pirates might have another power-hitting prospect worth paying attention to, and if the last year has taught them anything, it's that they shouldn't overlook what happens in the Arizona Fall League.

A year ago, Esmerlyn Valdez was turning heads with his ridiculous power display in the desert. By the following summer, he was hitting home runs at PNC Park. Now, Jhonny Severino is making a case to follow a similar trajectory.

Severino, Pittsburgh's No. 28 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, opened his Arizona Fall League campaign with a two-run home run for the Glendale Desert Dogs on Oct. 6. The ball traveled an estimated 417 feet and left his bat at 106.6 mph.

It was an impressive introduction, but anyone who followed Severino's 2026 minor league season probably wasn't surprised. The 21-year-old infielder spent the year at High-A Greensboro, where he hit .256/.308/.524 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI and an .832 OPS across 113 games. He also stole 16 bases, demonstrating that his offensive contributions aren't necessarily limited to hitting the ball over the fence.

Severino's 31 home runs ranked second among Pirates minor leaguers, yet he has remained largely overshadowed by more recognizable names in Pittsburgh's farm system.

Sound familiar?

Esmerlyn Valdez already showed Pirates what an Arizona Fall League breakout can mean

Valdez entered the 2025 Arizona Fall League after hitting 26 home runs between Greensboro and Double-A Altoona. What followed was one of the most impressive offensive performances in the league.

He hit eight home runs, drove in 27 runs and posted a staggering 1.355 OPS, earning Arizona Fall League Offensive Player of the Year honors. That momentum carried into 2026, when Valdez made his major league debut in May and finished his rookie season hitting .232/.345/.510 with 17 home runs in just 72 games.

Although Valdez experienced some growing pains, his power translated to the major league level almost immediately. That's precisely why Severino's emergence deserves attention.

Of course, there are reasons to temper expectations. Severino struck out 105 times while drawing just 33 walks this season, suggesting his plate discipline remains a significant developmental concern.

Greensboro is also notoriously hitter-friendly, and Severino's .565 home slugging percentage compared to .484 on the road suggests his production benefited somewhat from the environment.

There's also an important distinction between the two prospects: Valdez had already reached Double-A before his Fall League breakout, while Severino has yet to advance beyond High-A. Still, Severino has already demonstrated legitimate power, and the Fall League gives him an opportunity to prove that production wasn't simply a product of Greensboro's favorable hitting conditions.

The Pirates originally acquired Severino from the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2023 Carlos Santana trade. Three years later, that relatively overlooked deadline acquisition is beginning to look considerably more interesting.

Nobody should expect Severino to follow Valdez directly to Pittsburgh next season. He still has important developmental hurdles to clear, particularly against more advanced pitching. But the Pirates desperately need to develop more legitimate offensive contributors from within their organization, and Severino is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Valdez showed that an overlooked power hitter can turn an impressive minor league season into something much bigger. Perhaps Severino is next.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow