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The Pirates outrighted Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
He's no longer on the 40-man roster, but Valdez will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 27-year-old is a career .230/.288/.392 hitter over parts of three major-league seasons.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Booted from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Pirates designated Valdez for assignment Friday.
The club needed to free up a spot on its 40-man roster for the addition of Konnor Griffin. Valdez has managed just a .230/.288/.392 batting line over parts of three major-league seasons.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Bound for Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
Valdez was limited to just 102 plate appearances with the Pirates in 2025 before suffering a season-ending dislocated left shoulder in May, but after playing in the Dominican Winter League during the offseason, he received a clean bill of health heading into the spring. Despite offering the ability to play multiple infield positions, Valdez status as a left-handed hitter likely limited his appeal as a bench bat for the Pirates. Valdez will get the chance to play regularly at Indianapolis to begin the season and could emerge as a strong-side platoon option for the Pirates at some point in 2026 if Pittsburgh loses an everyday infielder to an injury.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Back in action in winter ball
Rotowire
Valdez (shoulder) has returned to game action with the Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter League, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Valdez underwent season-ending surgery in May to repair a dislocated left shoulder, but he's played three winter ball games and smacked a grand slam in his third contest for Estrellas on Sunday. Slated to turn 27 later this month, Valdez slashed .209/.294/.363 with two home runs and an 11:16 BB:K over 102 plate appearances for Pittsburgh before getting hurt. It seems Valdez will ready to roll for the start of spring training and he'll compete for a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster in 2026.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Still not hitting
Rotowire
Valdez (shoulder) will not be cleared to start hitting until the offseason, MLB.com reports.
Valdez was originally expected to be cleared to play in winter ball, though this report places that in doubt. He continues to throw from 120 feet and is expected to resume fielding grounders in the next several days.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Tracking well in recovery
Rotowire
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Valdez (shoulder) will meet his surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Dugas, in Alabama later this month and could be cleared to resume hitting thereafter, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Valdez underwent season-ending surgery in May to address a dislocated left shoulder, but the Pirates anticipate that he'll be ready to play during winter ball. More specifically, Tomczyk suggested that Valdez could be fully cleared for game action by October, though that will hinge on how quickly the 26-year-old is able to advance through his hitting program. Valdez is a left-handed hitter but a right-handed thrower, so the surgery to his left shoulder is of greater concern to his long-term outlook at the plate rather than as a defender.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: In midst of throwing program
Rotowire
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Valdez (shoulder) has resumed playing catch out to 90 feet, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Valdez is at about the midway point in his recovery from May surgery to address a dislocated left shoulder. Though the 26-year-old isn't on track to return from the 60-day injured list before the end of the season, the Pirates are optimistic that Valdez will be available to play winter ball.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Done for season after surgery
Rotowire
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Valdez recently underwent season-ending surgery on his dislocated left shoulder, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Tomczyk estimated that Valdez would require about six months of recovery time, so the 26-year-old utility man should be back to full strength or close to it for spring training. Before being shut down with what was initially labeled as an inflamed left shoulder before it was determined he suffered a dislocation, Valdez played in 31 games for the Pirates and slashed .209/.294/.363 with two home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs across 102 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Pirates transferred Valdez (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The transaction clears room on the 40-man roster for waiver pickup Michael Helman and ensures that Valdez won't be available for the big club until around the All-Star break. The Pirates initially deactivated Valdez on May 9 due to left shoulder inflammation, but his move to the 60-day IL could suggest that he's dealing with a more significant injury. Before getting injured, Valdez had been seeing regular reps at first base, but playing time could be difficult to come by for him once he's activated since Spencer Horwitz (wrist) is poised to beat him back from the IL.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Out with shoulder issue
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Valdez on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 8, due to left shoulder inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
It's unclear when exactly the injury first surfaced for Valdez, but he's gone 2-for-13 across his past four contests. The Pirates are now down another option at first base, with Valdez joining Spencer Horwitz (wrist) and Endy Rodriguez (finger) on the shelf. Ji Hwan Bae was called up by Pittsburgh in a corresponding move, though it's likely to be Matt Gorski that sees a bump in playing time.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Out against right-hander
Rotowire
Valdez is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.
Valdez had started each of the previous 18 games at first base against right-handed pitching, but he will begin this one on the bench as Atlanta sends righty Bryce Elder to the hill. Matt Gorski will play first base and bat sixth for the Pirates.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Sitting vs. southpaw
Rotowire
Valdez is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Cubs on Wednesday.
With the Cubs sending southpaw Matthew Boyd to the hill, Valdez will begin Wednesday's game in the dugout while Matt Gorski starts at first base and bats sixth. Valdez is slashing .219/.324/.422 with seven runs scored, two home runs and 11 RBI over 74 plate appearances this season.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: In Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Valdez (shoulder) will start at first base and bat fourth Tuesday against the Angels.
Valdez injured his shoulder during Saturday's contest on a slide into third base, but he appeared as a pinch hitter Sunday and is now back in the starting nine. The 26-year-old is slashing .244/.346/.467 with nine RBI and five runs across 52 plate appearances since the start of April.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Shoulder issue minor
Rotowire
GM Ben Cherington said Valdez's shoulder injury is "relatively minor" and that the infielder could be available off the bench for Sunday's game versus the Guardians, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old suffered the injury in the ninth inning of Saturday's contest as he slid into third base on a triple, and he was tagged out when he took his hand off the base to ask the umpire for time. Valdez has been a quality contributor early on for the Pirates this year with a .797 OPS and nine RBI in 53 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Appears as pinch hitter
Rotowire
Valdez (shoulder) went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored Sunday against the Guardians.
Valdez was out of the starting lineup after suffering a minor shoulder injury Saturday, though he managed to enter the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. That suggests Valdez should avoid a stint on the injured list, but his status will likely remain unclear until the Pirates retake the field Tuesday.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Drives in three from cleanup spot
Rotowire
Valdez went 2-for-2 with two walks, a double, three RBI and a run scored Monday against the Nationals.
Valdez has bounced around the order, briefly serving as the Pirates' leadoff hitter before getting a shot at cleanup for the first time Monday. He delivered a two-run single in the fifth frame, his second extra-base hit in his last three games. Valdez has been a regular against right-handed pitching while playing first and second base, and his playing time could become more secure with Endy Rodriguez (finger) expected to hit the injured list.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Getting shot at leadoff spot
Rotowire
Valdez is starting at second base and hitting leadoff in Friday's contest against the Reds.
Valdez becomes the sixth different leadoff hitter the Pirates have had in their first 14 games this season. The 26-year-old is also making his first start at second base for Pittsburgh, as each of his first five starts had all been at first base.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Appears poised to be recalled
Rotowire
Valdez has a locker at LoanDepot Park ahead of the Pirates' game against the Marlins on Friday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Valdez has not been officially recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis at this point, but his presence could mean the Pirates expect Nick Gonzales (ankle) to miss time. The team should have official word on Valdez and Gonzales soon.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Up from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates recalled Valdez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
With Nick Gonzales (ankle) headed for the injured list, the Pirates will bring Valdez up from the minors to replenish their infield depth. The 26-year-old is likely to remain on the bench most days while Adam Frazier starts at the keystone until Gonzales returns.
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Pirates' Enmanuel Valdez: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Valdez joined the Pirates over the offseason in a trade with Boston, but his tenure with the organization will officially begin in the minors. The 26-year-old owns a .686 OPS across 371 career plate appearances, though his ability to play in both the infield and outfield could help his chances at returning to Pittsburgh over the course of the season.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 5-8, 190 lbs
Birthplace: San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic
