Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Big numbers at Class A ball brought Esmerlyn Valdez to the Altoona Curve this summer.

Esmerlyn Valdez has had a summer to remember already and he’s just getting started.

The young Altoona Curve star raked in High-A Greensboro as he hit .303 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI for the Grasshoppers, earning him both a promotion to Altoona at the beginning of July, but also an invite to the MLB All Star Futures Game.

“Being able to represent the Pirates franchise and Latin America was exciting,” Valdez said through interpreter Omar Alfonso. “I’m very thankful for the Pirates organization and Major League Baseball for inviting me to the game.”

He was joined in Atlanta by teammate and one of the Pirates’ other top prospects in shortstop Konnor Griffin.

“It was very exciting because we’ve been together since the spring and the way the guys in the clubhouse reacted when they told us we were going,” Valdez said.

Valdez entered the Futures Game in the fifth inning and played first base. He flew out in his lone at bat of the game. Griffin started at shortstop and singled. He left the game in the fourth after being hit by a pitch.

For Valdez, it proved he was comfortable in front of the lights and the hustle of a Major League Baseball clubhouse.

“I felt really good being able to be in a big league clubhouse,” Valdez said. “There were a lot of interviews, a lot of cameras and famous people I grew up watching.”

It’s an experience Valdez plans on cherishing, but is also something he’s going to use to fuel his desire to get to the Majors and experience a big league clubhouse on a nightly basis.

“Being there pushes me a little more to get to the Majors and reach my goals because I feel like there’s more people surrounding you and looking at all the stuff you do, plus being able to play in front of my family and them being there for me.”