RADIO
Esmerlyn Valdez a Breakout Rookie to Target on the Waiver Wire
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder/first baseman Esmerlyn Valdez has taken the league by storm through his first 28 games and 105 plate appearances, hitting .309/.371/.713 with a 1.084 OPS, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and 21 runs for the Bucs. It all came to a head for the 22-year-old Dominican last weekend in a doubleheader sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, when he finished the day 4-for-8 with three home runs and eight RBI. Valdez is looking to keep up his hot month of July when the second half starts on Friday. In 11 games so far in July, he has gone 14-for-46 (.304) with four home runs, two doubles, a triple, 15 RBI, and 11 runs scored. Per MLB Pipeline, Valdez is Pittsburgh's No. 9 prospect. The 6-foot-2, 234-pounder made a concerted effort to improve his conditioning and approach at the plate in the last year, and it's really showing up during his MLB debut in 2026. Valdez's glove is nothing special, but if he keeps hitting like this, the Pirates will continue to run him out there every day. He won't be able to keep up his current pace through the rest of the season, but Valdez is one of the hottest young power bats to target going into the second half in fantasy leagues. The 22-year-old is currently rostered in 60% of Yahoo leagues, so he's still widely available.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Is it Time to Stash Jhostynxon Garcia Following Triple-A Surge?
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia has had his audition this season with the Pirates at the big-league level, and it didn't go resoundingly well. That being said, he still might be a name to keep in mind for the second half of the season for fantasy purposes. In the minors this season, between High-A Bradenton and Triple-A Indianapolis, Garcia is hitting .279 with nine homers and 30 RBI to go with 38 runs scored and five stolen bases. He hit just .200 in his brief spell with Pittsburgh, but that doesn't mean he will be precluded from another shot at the big leagues. He is the No. 4 overall prospect in the Pirates' system, and at 23 years old, he should get another opportunity in Pittsburgh. Additionally, Garcia enters the midway point swinging a hot bat, posting a .333/.419/.463 line over his last 15 games. He is an impact outfielder, and while the Pirates' outfield is deep at the big league level, it would be wise to stash Garcia as a potential impact bat in the second half, especially for those in deeper 15-team leagues with several N/A spots.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Pirates Take Outfielder Derek Curiel With Fifth Overall Pick
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Louisiana State outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth overall pick on Saturday in the 2026 MLB draft. Curiel was considered the No. 12 prospect in this year's draft. The 21-year-old stands at 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds and bats from the left side of the plate. In his second and final season with the Tigers in 2026, he hit .353/.431/.526 with a .957 OPS, six home runs, 46 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and 64 runs scored in 58 games and 274 plate appearances. He's a bit of a surprise to sneak into the top five picks of this year's draft because of the fact that he's considered more of a glove-first center fielder with more of an ability to hit for average than power. Curiel has great bat-to-ball skills, though, and a fluid swing from the left side. As things currently stand, Curiel could struggle to even reach 15 homers per season as he works his way up the minor-league ladder in the coming years, but perhaps he'll develop more power as he adds some weight to his currently lean frame. He has been compared to Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich without as much power.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Edward Florentino Emerging as Top Outfield Prospect to Roster
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Edward Florentino has enjoyed an impressive power surge at the High-A level and continues to solidify himself as one of the top outfield prospects to roster in dynasty formats. Over his last 16 contests, Florentino has carried a sharp .258/.319/.606 slash line with three doubles, one triple, and six home runs. However, overh is last seven games, Florentino has been even more impressive, hitting five of these home runs with an eye-catching 1.015 OPS. Overall this season, Florentino, the No. 30-ranked prospect in baseball, has posted a .213/.335/.426 line with 12 home runs and four stolen bases. While he needed some growing pains, the 19-year-old has gradually begun to turn the corner. While a late-season Double-A debut remains in play, fantasy managers should continue to view Florentino as an elite budding dynasty asset.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Esmerlyn Valdez a High-Upside Power Addition Off Waivers?
Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez is making a loud waiver case with impact power that is hard to ignore. The 22-year-old is hitting .293 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 16 runs, and a .993 OPS over 82 at-bats after going deep again Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. There is no stolen-base help here, so fantasy managers should not force a five-category label onto the profile. The power, though, looks very real. Valdez owns a 91.1 mph average exit velocity, 50.0% hard-hit rate, and 28.0% barrel rate, giving the early home run pace real support. The strikeouts are the obvious drawback, so some batting-average risk comes with the upside. Claimed in exactly half of Yahoo leagues, Valdez still has enough availability to matter. RotoBaller's latest waiver rankings support him as an add in 10-team formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jhostynxon Garcia Heating Up at Triple-A, Back on Stash Radar?
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia's bat got going over the past week, going 8-for-18 (.444) with a pair of doubles, three stolen bases, and a 5:3 BB:K in his last six games. The Pirates' fourth-ranked prospect had scuffled to a .184 average (9-for-49) over the previous 13 games, and for the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, he's slashing .244/.324/.378 with five home runs and four steals. The Venezuelan made quick work of Double and Triple-A last year on the way to a brief debut with the Red Sox, and spent two weeks with the Pirates earlier this year, but hasn't been able to do much with his opportunities in the big leagues. Perhaps this recent run of production can provide enough momentum to carry him back to the majors soon, but with poor chase, whiff, strikeout, and average exit velocities at Indy this year, there isn't much for fantasy managers to get excited about. There's no need to consider stashing the 23-year-old in most fantasy leagues except perhaps in NL-only formats.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ryan O'Hearn Goes Off for Three Homers, 10 RBI in Rout of Braves
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn made Pirates history on Tuesday night in the team's 12-4 blowout win at PNC Park over the visiting Atlanta Braves. O'Hearn was locked in at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three home runs and a franchise-record 10 RBI to raise his season average to .293 and his OPS to .851. The left-handed-hitting slugger lifted a grand slam and two three-run homers to become the 17th player in the modern era with at least 10 RBI in a single game. O'Hearn was already in consideration as a waiver-wire target during his breakout campaign in 2026, and now he really is after his monstrous performance on Tuesday. He's now slashing .293/.351/.500 with 16 long balls, 61 RBI, 47 runs scored, and a stolen base in 319 plate appearances in his first season in the Steel City. O'Hearn has hit safely in eight of his last nine starts and is sizzling hot as we approach next week's All-Star break. He's rostered in only 65% of Yahoo leagues, but that number is about to rise after he went nuclear against Atlanta.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Oneil Cruz Resumes Swinging a Bat
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) has resumed swinging a bat as he works his way back from a fractured left hand, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Cruz is making good progress, but he's not expected to return from the 10-day injured list until shortly after next week's All-Star break from July 13-16. Barring a setback on what should be a short minor-league rehab assignment, Cruz should be back for fantasy managers later this month. The 27-year-old Dominican outfielder remains a high-end, five-category contributor when he's healthy, so he should be rostered in all fantasy leagues while he recovers from his hand injury. Cruz is hitting .264/.350/.472 on the year with an .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases across his 250 at-bats in 2026. He's striking out at a 34.6% clip, which is concerning, but when he does make contact, it's usually hit hard. Cruz ranks in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 96th percentile in barrel rate, and the 85th percentile in expected slugging percentage.
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Source: MLB.com - Alex Stumpf
Oneil Cruz Still Expected to Return in July
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) is progressing well in Florida and is expected to return in July, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cruz won't make it back from the 10-day injured list before the All-Star break next week, but the Pirates are hoping he'll be back early in the second half later this month. The 27-year-old ditched his cast and resumed baseball activities at the team's complex in Florida last week. Cruz is nearing a minor-league rehab assignment and could be back for fantasy managers near the start of the second half of the season on July 17. The Dominican outfielder and former shortstop is a five-category contributor when healthy, so he should be stashed in all fantasy leagues while he recovers. He will be returning to a .264/.350/.472 slash line, .822 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases when he's reinstated from the IL.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Jhostynxon Garcia Hitting Skid at Triple-A, No Longer Worth Rostering?
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia earned a stint in the Steel City earlier in June but was quickly optioned back to the minor leagues. Over a brief 13-game stint with the Pirates, Garcia posted a .200/.243/.299 slash line with just one extra-base hit (a double). Since moving back to Indianapolis, Garcia has seen these struggles continue as he has held a modest .244/.313/.360 line with a .674 OPS. However, before his call-up to the majors, Garcia was flashing immense upside at the Triple-A level, which put him on the stash radar of many fantasy managers. Over his last 18 games ahead of his promotion. Garcia carried a dominant .326/.365/.632 line with three doubles and six home runs. Managers should continue to monitor his power output, but given his lengthy slump, he should not be stashed in any standard 12-team leagues for the time being.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Esmerlyn Valdez a Top Power Option on the Waiver Wire?
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez has played his way into a meaningful role. He has started six straight games in right field, with the last four coming from the cleanup spot. Through his first 69 plate appearances, the 22-year-old hit .339 with six home runs, 16 RBI, and a 1.133 OPS. He stayed productive after his four-game homer streak ended, going 6-for-14 with four RBI from July 1-3. The strikeouts are the obvious concern. Valdez has fanned in 31.9% of his plate appearances, while his .269 expected average sits well below his .339 mark. What happens when he connects is the draw: a 29.3% barrel rate, 53.7% hard-hit rate, and .634 expected slugging percentage. He has not stolen a base, making this a power pickup rather than a five-category play. RotoBaller recommends adding Valdez in 10-team leagues, and he is still rostered in only 47% of Yahoo formats. Managers looking for home runs and RBI should check the wire now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Edward Florentino Starting to Turn the Corner at High-A
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Edward Florentino endured some growing pains over his first stint at High-A Greensboro but has since begun to turn the corner. Over his last 15 games of action at this level (June 13 - July 2), Florentino has carried a sharp .293/.397/.534 line with a strong .932 OPS. Over this 15-game stint, Florentino has hit three doubles, hit three home runs, and even chipped in two stolen bases. Prior to this stretch, Florentino carried a much lower .184/.331/.325 line with one double and five home runs over his first 31 games at the High-A level. Currently, the 19-year-old is viewed as the No.34-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com and the team's No. 2-ranked prospect. Dynasty managers should continue to keep a close eye on his progression as he could be given a late-season taste of Double-A if he maintains this pace.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ryan O'Hearn Continues to Surge, Worth a Waiver-Wire Addition
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn has enjoyed his first year in the Steel City and has backed up his first All-Star appearance from a year ago, slashing .285/.340/.471 with an .811 OPS, 13 home runs, 51 RBI, 41 runs scored, and a stolen base in 73 games across 300 plate appearances. He is clearly on pace to set new career highs across the board if he stays healthy in the second half. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed hitter has been hitting even better in his last 15 games, going 20-for-63 (.317) with three home runs, six doubles, 16 RBI, and 10 runs scored in 65 plate appearances. That stretch includes five multi-hit games. O'Hearn is now an everyday player, and most importantly, he's improved against same-handed pitchers, hitting .240 (18-for-75) with three of his 13 home runs against left-handed pitchers. He might be producing a bit above his skis, though, with a hard-hit rate in the 62nd percentile, an xwOBA in the 51st percentile, a barrel rate in the 31st percentile, and a chase rate in the 27th percentile. Still, you can't ignore the improvements O'Hearn has made, and he's still worth considering off the waiver wire for outfield depth.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Has Jhostynxon Garcia Fallen Off the Stash Radar?
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia went 13-for-42 (.310) with two doubles and two home runs in the 12 games following his return to Triple-A Indianapolis earlier this month, but has gone just 3-for-22 (.136) in the six games since without any extra base hits. On the bright side, he's still drawn four walks during that time and stole his first base of the season. The Venezuelan debuted with the Red Sox in 2025 and has played 13 games for the Pirates in 2026, but has done little with his opportunities, going 8-for-42 (.190) with a 32.6 percent strikeout rate during his time in the majors. The Pirates' fourth-ranked prospect makes some loud contact, as evidenced by a 93rd percentile max exit velocity this season of 113.5 at Triple-A, but the right-handed slugger will need to pick it up at the plate to become a stash consideration for fantasy squads. The 23-year-old will likely be back in the big leagues at some point this season, but there is little reason to stash him at this point.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ryan O'Hearn Snaps Power Outage With Two-Homer Game on Sunday
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn snapped a recent power outage with a big game in Sunday's series finale in a 9-4 victory over the division-rival Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park. O'Hearn went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored, and a strikeout to raise his average to .286 and his OPS to .821 on the year. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed slugger had a solo shot in the fifth inning off Reds starter Brady Singer before hitting a three-run bomb in the eighth inning. Before his power display on Sunday in Pittsburgh, O'Hearn had hit just one home run in his previous 16 contests. Overall in 2026, in his first year with the Bucs, O'Hearn has been a consistent offensive producer, slashing .286/.342/.479 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and 38 runs scored in his 284 plate appearances as an everyday player. The difference has been his improvement against same-handed pitchers, as he entered Sunday's action hitting .250 (18-for-72) with three of his 11 homers against lefties.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
