The Pirates will have to keep waiting on Endy Rodriguez.
Pittsburgh placed the breakout catcher on the 10-day injured list Thursday with inflammation in his left hip, a setback that removes one of the club’s most productive bats from a lineup that’s been trying to piece itself together through a string of injuries. Right-hander Isaac Mattson was recalled from Triple-A to fill Rodriguez’s roster spot, while lefty reliever Evan Sisk was optioned and infielder Jack Brannigan was brought up from Triple-A Indianapolis.
The move doesn’t force Pittsburgh to dig for another catcher. The Pirates were already carrying three - Rodriguez, Henry Davis and Rafael Flores - so Davis and Flores are set to handle the work behind the plate during what the team hopes will be a short absence for the 26-year-old.
Rodriguez has been one of the better stories in the Pirates’ third season giving him a real look in the majors. In 159 plate appearances, he’s hit .267/.373/.467 with seven homers, six doubles and six steals, good for a 132 wRC+.
He’s also shown a sharp eye, walking at a 14.5% clip, while striking out in just over a quarter of his trips. Behind the plate, his framing has drawn solid marks, though he’s only 5-for-35 throwing out runners and grades slightly below average at blocking balls in the dirt, according to Statcast.
His absence adds another name to a crowded injured list. Rodriguez joins shortstop Konnor Griffin, center fielder Oneil Cruz and outfielder/first baseman Ryan O’Hearn on the shelf. The Pirates did get Spencer Horwitz back from the IL recently, but his overlap with Rodriguez lasted only 10 days before Rodriguez landed there himself.
Even with those pieces missing, Pittsburgh is still getting strong production from Bryan Reynolds and rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Brandon Lowe is on pace for a second straight 30-homer season, and Nick Gonzales has kept the offense moving with contact and a .304/.360/.400 line, even if the power hasn’t shown up and his .365 average on balls in play is unlikely to last. Cruz started a minor league rehab assignment last week and may not be far off, while Griffin is swinging and taking part in baseball activities but has not yet begun a rehab assignment.
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Pirates Just Lost The Stability Endy Rodrguez Was Finally Giving Them
Endy Rodrguez had been giving the Pirates a needed dose of stability behind the plate, a welcome development for a club that has spent plenty of time juggling health and depth questions. The catchers recent run had helped settle one of Pittsburghs most important spots, and the roster move the team made Monday reminded everyone how fragile that kind of order can be.
Pittsburgh sent Rodrguez to the injured list and shifted its bullpen mix by recalling Jack Brannigan and Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Indianapolis while optioning Evan Sisk. Rodrguez has dealt with injuries before, so even a short absence carries some familiar concern for the Pirates, who will be watching closely to see how quickly he can get back into the lineup and whether the team can bridge the gap in the meantime. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger concern now is less about one bad start than what might be behind the drop. Around the game, there is already a split in the theories, with some wondering whether he has added weight and lost some of the velocity that helped make him so dominant, while others are looking at the workload on his arm. For Pittsburgh, that leaves an uncomfortable question hanging over one of its most important young players, because the answer could shape much more than the next turn through the rotation. [Read more 🡒]