This Change Unlocked Esmerlyn Valdez's Full Potential for Pirates originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.It's easy to forget now that Esmerlyn Valdez has put himself squarely in contention for Rookie of the Year in the National League.But his first stint in the major leagues this season with the Pittsburgh Pirates didn't go well.Valdez was called up for five games in late May, and he went 2-for-16. To be fair, those two hits were both home runs, but he also struck out nine times. It was a small sample, but it didn't quite feel sustainable.He was then sent back down to Triple-A Indianapolis for two weeks, and since he returned, he's been one of the best hitters in baseball.From his June 11 return, on, these are Valdez's stats:.337 batting average.404 on-base percentage.793 slugging percentage1.197 OPS31-for-927 doubles1 triple11 home runs29 RBI22 runs11 walks37 strikeouts (104 plate appearances)Maybe a bit more swing-and-miss than you'd like, but otherwise exceptional.Did something change? You bet.Check out how different Valdez's stance looks now than it did in that five-game stint to start his MLB career:Which allowed for this to occur.Credit to Hague & the rest of the staff. https://t.co/g5gWIongfqpic.twitter.com/lo4qyRcaLw Jitty (@jitty412) July 21, 2026MORE:Full list of Pirates 2026 MLB Draft picksBatting stances are a lot about the comfort level of a hitter, but they can also make a difference mechanically.Lower hands for Valdez likely allow him to get his bat to the ball quicker, and to keep the bat head in the zone longer.He's also not as tightly coiled, which should help with his overall fluidity.Clearly, it's working, and that's what matters -- but kudos to whoever came up with this, because it has turned Valdez, at least at the moment, into one of the most dangerous sluggers in the sport.More PiratesLatest Piratesnews2026 Piratesschedule2026 PiratesrosterComplete history of Pirateschampionships