Esmerlyn Valdez is in the midst of a brutal slump, going just 3-for-38 (.079) over his last 13 games — but don’t count him out. The Pirates’ rookie outfielder, who was crushing it with a .333 average and 12 homers in July (earning Rookie of the Month), hit a wall after being hit by a pitch in early August. Since then, he’s gone 0-for-7 with 19 strikeouts — until finally breaking through against the Mets. Despite the struggles, Valdez remains disciplined, drawing 14 walks to go with those 19 Ks, keeping his on-base percentage solid. The team has shuffled his lineup spot and moved him to left field in hopes of reigniting his bat. Manager Don Kelly still believes in him — and the Pirates need Valdez back to his old self if they’re going to make a postseason push. Talent’s there; now it’s about weathering this storm.
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