Young Fan Negotiates Hard for Pirates Rookie's First HR Ball

When 22-year-old Esmerlyn Valdez crushed his first Major League hit—a two-run homer—his teammates gave him the silent treatment, but getting the ball back proved even trickier.

The Pirates' No. 9 prospect launched a 345-foot shot into the Rogers Centre crowd during Sunday's 4-1 win over the Blue Jays. His first career hit couldn't have been more perfect: a clutch sixth-inning blast that gave Pittsburgh some breathing room.

Back in the dugout, Valdez was confused by the silence. "When I came into the dugout, I'm like, 'Come on guys, what's happening?'" he said, before his teammates broke into hugs and celebration for the rookie's welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment.

Meanwhile, Pirates reliever Justin Lawrence spotted the fan who caught the ball and figured this would be easy. The kid had other plans.

"Right away he goes, 'I think I'm going to keep it,'" Lawrence recalled. What followed was a negotiation worthy of a seasoned agent, not a young baseball fan.

The Pirates bullpen crew had to work for it. After some back-and-forth, they closed the deal: one milestone baseball in exchange for an autographed bat and hat.

"It's such a special moment for [Valdez]," Lawrence said. "I don't know how often a guy gets his first home run ball back, so just having an opportunity to be able to get it for him was awesome."

The moment capped an emotional weekend for Valdez. Through his first two games, he'd gone hitless with three strikeouts, but he never wavered from his goal of helping the team win.

When he connected on that 79.5 mph sweeper from Chase Lee, sending it to right field, one thought crossed his mind: "Wow, I made it."

Sunny's Take

This story has everything: a rookie's dream moment, a confident kid who knew the value of what he held, and teammates who went the extra mile to make sure their newest Pirate got his keepsake. The young fan walked away with signed gear, Valdez got his milestone ball, and everyone learned that even the youngest fans know how to negotiate when they're holding something special.

Manager Don Kelly hopes this is just the beginning for Valdez, saying the homer should help him "breathe and relax." Pittsburgh is banking on many more swings like Sunday's from their promising prospect.