What happened: Steve Phillips, Adnan Virk and Jake Peavy broke down Esmerlyn Valdez's emergence as a force in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup, with Phillips saying he expects the young hitter to stick in the Big Leagues. The discussion framed Valdez as a rising bat carrying real weight in the middle of Pittsburgh's order.

Why it matters: The Pirates sit at 43-44 and have leaned on their pitching for much of the season, so a durable young bat addresses one of the roster's clearest needs. A hitter who profiles as an everyday big-leaguer gives Pittsburgh a longer-term building block as it tries to climb back over .500.

What to watch: Watch whether Valdez holds an everyday role and continues to produce as the Pirates push through the second half.