Pirates Prospect Update: Two young Bucs selected for Futures Game

The brightest stars of tomorrow in their own midsummer classic!

The All-Star Futures Game is kicking off the All-Star festivities this year and two young Buccos were selected to compete for the National League team. Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez will be representing the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in this exciting clash of Minor League talent.

Nearly everyone is up to speed on the talented player that is Konnor Griffin. Drafted ninth overall by the Pirates just a year ago, he’s already making his mark as one of the best hitters in all of Minor League baseball. Across all levels of the Minor Leagues, he currently ranks eight in hits and first in runs scored. Griffin was also named player of the week in the middle of June as his .327/.400/.921 split has been jumping off the pages.

Though highly unlikely, there are some fans and journalists that think Griffin could make his Major League debut as early as next year. Again that is very unlikely, but there is no denying he has earned this spot on the Futures team ten times over. He was already killing it in Low-A, but since his promotion to High-A Greensboro the highlights just keep on coming.

Griffin’s former teammate in Greensboro, Esmerlyn Valdez, will also be playing in the All-Star Futures Game. Originally signed by the Pirates in 2021, Valdez has worked his way up from the Dominican Summer League, all the way up to Double-A Altoona where he was recently called up to. He showed his great power potential at the plate last year, hitting 22 homers, but had a strikeout rate sitting north of 30 percent. This year however his chase and strikeout numbers have dropped, and his new approach at the plate hasn’t squandered any of his power as he has 20 at the All-Star break.

Valdez has a major league ETA of 2027, and has come leaps and bounds since being signed. His potential as a future power hitter for the Pirates is ever-growing, and this nod to the Futures Game only solidifies that more. If he can continue to show off that raw power, he could have a spot as a corner outfielder or at first base. Either way, if the development stays the course there should be a spot for this kind of player in a major league lineup.

The MLB All-Star Futures Game will be taking place at 4pm ET in Truist Park down in Atlanta as the best prospects in baseball come together for their own version of the midsummer classic.