Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Set to begin rehab assignment
Rotowire
Rodriguez (finger) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Rodriguez has been shelved for the past month with a laceration on his right index finger but has been cleared to test himself in a game setting. The switch hitter shouldn't require too many at-bats in the minors before being activated from the 10-day injured list.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Sheds splint
Rotowire
Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed, is playing catch and has resumed a modified swing, MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez has been sidelined with a laceration on his right index finger since April 15. His progress has been slower than anticipated, though he should still have the chance to return later in May.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
The Pirates placed Rodriguez on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right index finger laceration, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez took a deflected pitch off the finger during Monday's game against the Nationals and needed stiches to close the wound. He will need time for the cut to heal and it's not clear if Rodriguez will be ready to return when first eligible. Joey Bart (back) is also banged up, but the Pirates are not replacing Rodriguez on the roster with another catcher, suggesting Bart is close to returning to action.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Likely headed to IL
Rotowire
Rodriguez (finger) needed stitches after exiting Monday's game against the Nationals and will likely be placed on the 10-day injured list, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Rodriguez took a deflected pitch off a finger on his throwing hand during the first inning Monday, resulting in his departure. The Pirates announced after the matchup that Rodriguez required stitches, which will presumably necessitate a trip to the injured list. Joey Bart (back) is also nursing an injury, so this could open up opportunities for Henry Davis behind the dish.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Diagnosed with finger laceration
Rotowire
Rodriguez departed Monday's game against Washington due to a right finger laceration, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Rodriguez was forced to exit the matchup in the first inning after James Wood was struck by a pitch and the ball deflected into Rodriguez. The 24-year-old can be considered day-to-day until more information comes to light.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Exits Monday's game
Rotowire
Rodriguez was removed in the first inning of Monday's game against the Nationals due to a right finger injury, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The injury occurred when Paul Skenes hit James Wood on the foot with a pitch, which deflected and struck Rodriguez on his right index finger. Henry Davis has come in to serve behind home plate, and an update on Rodriguez's injury should come during or shortly after the conclusion of Monday's contest.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Getting Sunday off
Rotowire
Rodriguez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.
Rodriguez will get a breather after he started each of the last three games -- two at catcher, and one at first base. Enmanuel Valdez will occupy first base Sunday, while Joey Bart settles back in behind the dish in the series finale.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Not in Pittsburgh lineup
Rotowire
Rodriguez is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays.
Rodriguez has garnered three starts at first base and one start at catcher in the early going, but he will begin Tuesday's tilt on the bench. Enmanuel Valdez will handle first base, and Joey Bart will do the catching for Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Getting rest Saturday
Rotowire
Rodriguez isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins.
Rodriguez has gone 0-for-6 with four strikeouts through the first two games of Pittsburgh's season. He'll get a chance to regroup Saturday while Jared Triolo starts at first base and bats seventh.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Fanned three times on Opening Day
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Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with one walk and three strikeouts during Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Marlins.
Rodriguez got the start at first base Opening Day due to Spencer Horwitz (wrist) starting the season on the 10-day injured list. Rodriguez opened things up with a six-pitch walk in the third inning, but he proceeded to strike out in each of his next three plate appearances, the first two of which came on three pitches. The 24-year-old is serving as the backup catcher to Joey Bart but should also split time at first base with Jared Triolo until Horwitz is healthy.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Starts at first base in opener
Rotowire
Rodriguez will start at first base and bat seventh in Thursday's opener against the Marlins.
Rodriguez is the backup catcher behind Joey Bart, but he will also see ample time at first base while Spencer Horwitz (wrist) is on the shelf. Jared Triolo -- who likely represents Rodriguez's primary competitor for playing time at first base -- will begin Thursday's game on the bench.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Likely wins roster spot
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Rodriguez appears to have won the backup catcher job for the Pirates, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
The Pirates optioned Henry Davis to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, setting up Rodriguez to back up Joey Bart to begin the season. Rodriguez missed all of the 2024 season due to a UCL injury, but he's maintained an impressive .321/.486/.571 line across 37 plate appearances in spring training. If he continues to swing the bat well, the Pirates are likely to find a way to get Rodriguez in the lineup more regularly given the lack of quality bats on the roster.
Rodriguez will likely begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis because the Pirates want him to get everyday at-bats, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez is returning from a lost 2024 season caused by an elbow injury. He's performed well enough to secure a roster spot by hitting .381 with three extra-base hits across 21 at-bats in Grapefruit League games, but Joey Bart has earned the top spot on the depth chart after producing well last year. The Pirates have experimented with Rodriguez at different positions in the past, and he may need to regain that versatility or have Henry Davis struggle in order to find his way to the majors early in the campaign.
Rodriguez (elbow) said his swing feels 100 percent as he enters spring training, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez missed nearly the entire 2024 season while recovering from elbow surgery. However, his sights will be set on a big-league roster spot entering 2025, as the Pirates depth chart at catcher is ambiguous following Joey Bart. Rodriguez did acknowledge that he will likely experience some rust early in spring, so his exhibition stats may not be particularly impressive.
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Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Should be good for spring training
Rotowire
Manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Rodriguez (elbow) is expected to be fully healthy for the start of spring training, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Rodriguez was sidelined for the entire 2024 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow in December of 2023. He was able to progress in his recovery enough to go on a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona in September, and it appears the 24-year-old right-hander will be able to report for the start of spring training. Rodriguez played in 57 regular-season games for the Pirates in 2023 and finished with a slash line of .220/.284/.328 with three home runs and 13 RBI over 204 plate appearances.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Rodriguez (elbow) will report to Double-A Altoona on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Rodriguez has progressed well in his rehab from Tommy John surgery in December, and he'll be able to see game action in the minors after previously being fully ruled out for 2024. The 24-year-old is expected to see most of his playing time at first base and designated hitter, but he'll also see some time behind the plate. Rodriguez still isn't expected to see action with the Pirates before the end of the campaign, but he's setting up to enter the offseason in a strong position heading into 2025.
