National League’s Edward Florentino scores during the third inning of the MLB All-Star Futures baseball game against the American League on Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Chris Szagola)<\/p>\n
PHILADELPHIA \u2014 Last year\u2019s MLB All-Star Futures Game saw Esmerlyn Valdez and Konnor Griffin suit up as the representatives of the Pirates in the game. <\/p>\n
Those once future stars are now present ones with both starring for the Pirates this season. This year, the representatives for the Pirates were Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino, who look to follow in their future teammates footsteps as they took the field at Citizens Bank Park Sunday afternoon. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a good experience,\u201d Florentino said. \u201cThis is a good trajectory that they had for us, and I think if they do it, we can do it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The moment is not lost on Hernandez either to be on a national stage where the best of the best perform. It\u2019s also not lost on him that those guys were in his shoes just last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think for them it\u2019s (they) want to be here in the moment, but obviously the goal is to be in the big leagues, and the fact they\u2019re there now having so much success \u2014 it\u2019s amazing,\u201d Hernandez said. <\/p>\n
Both Hernandez and Florentino are expected to make it to Altoona at some point during the remainder of the season with many hoping it\u2019s sooner rather than later. <\/p>\n
For now, they are focused on what they can control, and in Hernandez\u2019s case, staying healthy through his first full minor league season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a good year,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cBody\u2019s still healthy, so that\u2019s really all you could ask for, especially this last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hernandez put that on full display in the second inning for the National League team Sunday afternoon. He had two strikeouts, consistently threw his fastball in the upper 90s and hit 101 mph.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was different,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cA lot of adrenaline running up to the mound. Got a little tired running in because I\u2019m not used to that run. But other than that, I mean, it was electric. The atmosphere here today was pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Florentino got to see it up close just like he does in Greensboro on a regular basis, and it was the same result he\u2019s used to seeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cNasty. He just was nasty one on one,\u201d Florentino said. \u201cThat was unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Florentino started the game in right field and hit ninth in the order. In his lone appearance at the plate, he was hit with a pitch. Florentino stole second and scored the NL\u2019s only run in a 6-1 loss to the AL.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a really good experience,\u201d Florentino said. \u201cI think it\u2019s one of the things that we always dream of being part of the All-Star Game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The experiences of both Hernandez and Florentino will live on for the rest of their careers and is something they were able to soak in during their time in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt went by super fast. I think it was a good experience to be around all the guys, see some faces that I\u2019ve seen before,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cThe atmosphere in Philadelphia today was special. I did not expect there to be that many people, so that was cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
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