![\"Esmerlyn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Valdez2-1120x630.jpg\")
20250905, The Altoona Curve face the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Peoples Natural Gas Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania (Photos by Harrison Barden)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t20250905, The Altoona Curve face the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Peoples Natural Gas Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania (Photos by Harrison Barden)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
A scout once told me to temper expectations for Pittsburgh Pirates position-player prospects until they reach Double-A Altoona. I\u2019ve never forgotten that.<\/p>\n
The reasoning makes sense. Typically, the competition in the rookie leagues and the Florida State League \u2013 home of the Low-A Bradenton Marauders \u2013 isn\u2019t consistently challenging.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The South Atlantic League \u2013 where the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers compete \u2013 is one of the most notoriously hitter-friendly environments in the sport.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I traveled to Altoona in August to watch Konnor Griffin\u2019s Double-A debut. Before the game, I asked fellow Pirates prospect Termarr Johnson about the transition from Greensboro to Altoona.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit different,\u201d he said. \u201cA lot of hits that you would get or home runs that you would get in Greensboro, you don\u2019t get them here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson followed by saying how the jump up to the Eastern League has benefited him and has taught him how to be a different and more complete hitter, which adds even more assurance that what the scout told me is accurate.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not uncommon to see a prospect fizzle out once they reach the Curve, whether due to a tougher environment or simply improved competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the good news for the Pirates is that two of their top hitting prospects have passed the test in Double-A.<\/p>\n
Griffin breezed through Bradenton and Greensboro and earned his promotion to the Curve after only 101 games. His numbers in Altoona were just as good as they were at each of his first two stops, and it\u2019s why the Pirates, as expected, named him their 2025 Honus Wagner Player of the Year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite being just 19 years old when he reached Double-A, Griffin slashed .337\/.418\/.542 with five home runs, 22 RBI and six stolen bases in 21 games.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of guys that are four, five years older than me. So I\u2019m playing with grown men and you got to kind of adapt to it a little bit,\u201d Griffin explained. \u201cAt the same time, I\u2019m just going to continue being who I am. I have a lot of fun when I\u2019m at the ballpark and I feel like I grew every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was little doubt in my mind \u2014 or anyone\u2019s for that matter \u2014 that Griffin would have any problems competing in Double-A, but the same can\u2019t be said about everyone. <\/p>\n
While Griffin was named the organization\u2019s minor-league player of the year, fellow prospect Esmerlyn Valdez was awarded the Willie Stargell Slugger of the Year.<\/p>\n
Valdez began the season with High-A Greensboro and hit .303 with a .977 OPS, 18 doubles, 20 home runs and 57 RBI in 72 games.<\/p>\n
The Pirates promoted the 21-year-old to Altoona at the start of July and he continued to have success. In 51 games after the promotion, Valdez slashed .260\/.363\/.409 with seven doubles, six home runs, 29 RBI and a 126 wRC+. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first time in all of the years that I\u2019ve played that I got promoted in the middle of the season,\u201d Valdez explained through interpreter Juan Guerra. \u201cAt the beginning, I felt a little bit weird, but I was able to make the adjustment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given what each of them showed with Altoona in 2025, both Griffin and Valdez are in position to reach the big leagues at some point in 2025.<\/p>\n
Considering how abysmal the Pirates\u2019 offense was last season, they will be counting on guys like Griffin, Valdez and others to help remedy those woes.<\/p>\n
If their performance in Double-A is any indication of how they will perform as big-leaguers, that lowly offense will be getting two boosts in short order.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Esmerlyn Valdez<\/a> Konnor Griffin<\/a> Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n