Endy Rodriguez Expected To Be "Fully Healthy" For Spring Training
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said at the MLB winter meetings on Monday that the expectation is that catching prospect Endy Rodriguez (elbow) will be "fully healthy" for the start of spring training in mid-February. Rodriguez was forced to miss all of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to fix the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow in December of 2023, although he did take part in a minor-league rehab assignment in September for Double-A Altoona. The 24-year-old backstop switch-hitting Dominican made his MLB debut in 2023 and slashed .220/.284/.328 with three homers and 13 RBI in 57 games for the Bucs in 57 games. Given all the time he missed last year while recovering from elbow surgery, it would not be a surprise at all to see Rodriguez start in the minors in 2025 while serving as catching depth for Joey Bart and Henry Davis at the big-league level.
Pittsburgh Pirates switch-hitting catcher Endy Rodriguez (elbow) is now hitting live batting practice from the left side, according to director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. Rodriguez will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing elbow surgery in December, but it's good to see that the 24-year-old backstop is making progress in his recovery. The Dominican backstop made his big-league debut in 2023 and struggled, slashing .220/.284/.328 with a .612 OPS, three home runs, 13 RBI and 27 runs scored in 57 games played. Former first-rounder Henry Davis (concussion) has been out for a while now with a head injury and has so far been a bust in the big leagues. In the meantime in 2024, Joey Bart and veteran Yasmani Grandal are going to split the catching duties in Pittsburgh moving forward.
Pittsburgh Pirates catchers Yasmani Grandal (foot) and Endy Rodriguez (elbow) are making progress from their respective injuries, while catcher Jason Delay (knee) has been shut down from all baseball activities. Grandal is going to do some baserunning in the coming days and has been participating in simulated games. Rodriguez should start a swinging progression from the left side of the plate next week. The veteran Grandal is working his way back from plantar fasciitis in his left foot but appears to be close to a rehab assignment. When the 35-year-old is ready, he'll split catching duties in Pittsburgh with Henry Davis. Rodriguez, 23, is the team's backstop of the future, but he'll be out until the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Pirates Place Johan Oviedo, Endy Rodriguez On 60-Day Injured List
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Johan Oviedo (elbow) and catcher Endy Rodriguez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday. Oviedo will miss all of the 2024 season after having Tommy John surgery in December. The 25-year-old was inconsistent in his first full season as a starter for the Pirates last year, going 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA (4.49 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP while striking out a career-high 158 batters and walking 83 in 177 2/3 innings over 32 starts. Oviedo won't be back until 2025, and his high walk rate will continue to make him risky in deeper fantasy league. Rodriguez will also miss all of 2024 after having surgery last December to fix the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow. The 23-year-old backstop will have some mild post-hype sleeper appeal when he returns in 2025.
Endy Rodriguez To Miss 2024 Season Due To Elbow Surgery
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez (elbow) will miss the 2024 season due to UCL reconstruction surgery on his right elbow and a repair of his right flexor tendon, per MLB.com's Jake Crouse. The Pirates stated that the 23-year-old initially sustained an injury in mid-November during a Dominican winter league with Estrellas Orientales. Rodriguez was one of the team's two catching prospects to join the team in 2023, slashing .220/.284/.328 three home runs and 13 RBI in 204 plate appearances. This is a shame for the Pirates and fantasy managers, as Rodriguez was a top prospect last season. His absence in 2024 may present more opportunity for their other top catching prospect, Henry Davis.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez is not in the starting lineup on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels. This is just a day off for the rookie backstop, who's most struggled in his first, albeit small, taste of the big leagues. He's slashing .188/.235/.438 across his first five games but he did hit his first home run during Saturday's win over the Halos. Austin Hedges is starting behind the plate and batting ninth against Tyler Anderson in Sunday's series finale.
Pittsburgh Pirates rookie catcher Endy Rodriguez will take the day off on Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians. Rodriguez just made his major-league debut this week and has gone hitless in seven at-bats with six strikeouts, so the Pirates are going to let him clear his head a bit before his third start in the big leagues. Austin Hedges will do the catching on Wednesday and bat ninth for the Pirates against Guardians right-hander Aaron Civale. Rodriguez is going to see the majority of starts behind the dish, but he'll need to get going at the plate eventually. The team's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is a switch-hitting catcher that has a chance to make a real impact with his bat, but it might take some time. For now, he's worth rostering in two-catcher formats.
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said that rookie catcher Endy Rodriguez will receive the bulk of the catching repetitions moving forward. Austin Hedges will catch a couple times a week and at the end of games. The Pirates didn't call up their No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, just to have him sit on the bench. Fellow catching prospect Henry Davis will continue to play the outfield for the Bucs. The 23-year-old switch-hitting Rodriguez hit .268 (73-for-272) with six homers, 16 doubles, three triples, 38 RBI, four stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 67 games for Triple-A Indianapolis before getting the call-up to make his major-league debut. He should be scooped up immediately in all two-catcher fantasy formats with the potential to be an impact bat in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher prospect Endy Rodriguez will be promoted to the major league roster for his debut. The 23-year-old slashed .268/.356/.415 across 67 games with Triple-A Indianapolis this season. He is the No. 35 prospect in baseball and the third-ranked prospect in the Pirates system, per MLB Pipeline. Despite flashing 55-grade power, Rodriguez has managed only five home runs this season, though he did launch 25 long balls in 125 games during the 2022 campaign. His offensive upside is high, especially for a catcher, making him an immediately worthwhile fantasy target. Rodriguez has spent time at both second base and in the outfield, giving him a flexible path to consistent playing time.
Pittsburgh Pirates catching prospect Endy Rodriguez, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the team's No. 3 prospect, is currently hitting .258 (68-for-264) with five home runs, 14 doubles, three triples, 33 RBI, four stolen bases and 50 runs scored in 304 plate appearances and 65 games at the All-Star break for Triple-A Indianapolis. The 23-year-old Dominican switch-hitter is heating up of late, too, going 17-for-51 (.333) with a homer, four doubles, seven RBI and 15 runs in 12 games dating back to June 23. Rodriguez is a versatile athlete and can also play second base and outfield, although he profiles as Pittsburgh's catcher of the future. We'd like to see more power, but his offensive abilities should play nicely at the catching position once he makes it to the big leagues, which could come as early as this year.
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