The Pittsburgh Pirates were well represented at the Arizona Fall League's Fall Stars weekend, with Tony Blanco Jr. capturing the league's Home Run Derby crown on Saturday and Esmerlyn Valdez starting in right field for the National League squad on Sunday.
The hulking 6-foot-7, 243-pound Blanco showed off his impressive power at the Home Run Derby, with one of his homers recorded at 122.9 mph – harder than any home run hit during an MLB game or MLB Home Run Derby in the Statcast era.
As part of the new-look format in 2025, Blanco began the Home Run Derby as teammates with Valdez, who went on to represent the Pirates in the Fall Stars Game the following day.