Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/catcher Endy Rodriguez (finger) has shed his cast and has been cleared to begin playing catch. Rodriguez has been recovering from a laceration on his right index finger since April. It appears the 24-year-old has progressed well and can begin ramping up his baseball activity. Through his first 15 games of the campaign, Rodriguez held a .178/.260/.244 slash line with three doubles, two RBI, and a 12:5 K:BB. Under the hood, he generated a solid 45.5% hard-hit rate and was able to draw walks at a 10.0% rate. If he continues to progress well, Rodriguez could be cleared to embark on a rehab assignment before the end of the month. When he is cleared to return to Pittsburgh, fantasy managers should expect Rodriguez to compete for time at first base and as the No. 2 backstop behind Joey Bart.

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed catcher Endy Rodriguez (finger) on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday after he exited Monday's contest against the Washington Nationals with a right index-finger laceration that required stitches, sources told MLB.com's Alex Stumpf. In a corresponding move, the Pirates recalled right-hander Chase Shugart from the minors. Shugart threw 3 2/3 scoreless relief innings for the Bucs in his first stint with the team. With Rodriguez now on the IL and Joey Bart still nursing a back injury, Henry Davis got the start behind the dish on Tuesday and went 1-for-3 in the 3-0 loss. The fact that the Pirates didn't call up an additional catcher suggests that Bart is getting close to a return. The 24-year-old switch-hitting Rodriguez started the year 8-for-45 (.178) with no home runs, three doubles and two RBI and will be a backup catcher/first baseman when he returns from the IL.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez (finger) was forced to exit early during Monday's game against the Washington Nationals. Rodriguez was removed after being hit in the wrist by a deflected ball. Ouch, the Pirates can't afford to lose another catcher with Joey Bart (back) injured as well. The team is calling Rodriguez day-to-day with a right index finger laceration. Henry Davis took over behind the plate on Monday and figures to see more playing time with the team shorthanded at catcher. It doesn't sound like Rodriguez or Bart will require a trip to the injured list.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez is not in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon against the Miami Marlins. Rodriguez started the first two games of the season at first base. Instead, the Pirates will turn to Jared Triolo to cover first base and will bat seventh. Across his first two games of the season, Rodriguez has gone 0-for-6 with a 2:4 BB:K. Fantasy managers should expect Rodriguez to return to the starting nine on Sunday afternoon, for the final game of the four-game set against the Marlins. Triolo held a .216/.296/.315 slash line across 125 MLB contests last season in Pittsburgh. He went deep 10 times and went deep nine times. Given his offensive inconsistencies, he is not worth targeting in DFS facing Miami right-hander Valente Bellozo.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez is expected to begin the season at the Triple-A level. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com noted that the team wants to give Rodriguez at-bats on a daily basis. With Joey Bart slated to be Pittsburgh's primary backstop, Rodriguez will be able to further his development with more playing time in the minor leagues. Last season, Rodriguez was only able to play in 10 minor league games due to an elbow injury. He made his MLB debut during the 2023 season and posted a .220/.284/.328 line with seven doubles and three home runs across 57 contests. He held a 17:49 BB:K. Through 77 career games at Triple-A, the 24-year-old has posted a .285/.362/.450 slash line with 19 doubles and eight home runs. He is worth monitoring in NL-only leagues as he should return to the majors later in 2025.

According to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez (elbow) "feels great" heading into spring training. Rodriguez missed most of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair his UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow. Rodriguez noted that his swing feels "correct" as well. However, fantasy managers should expect him to be eased into action during spring training, as he appeared in just 10 games (all in the minor leagues) last season. In 2023, Rodriguez made his big league debut and posted a .220/.284/.328 line with seven doubles and three home runs. While Joey Bart is likely penciled in as the Opening Day starting catcher, Rodriguez is expected to compete for the No. 2 role with former top prospect Henry Davis during spring training. If Rodriguez makes the Opening Day roster, he could be worth a look in deeper NL-only formats.

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.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher prospect Endy Rodriguez went 4-for-5 with three runs and one RBI on Monday for Triple-A Indianapolis. Rodriguez, 23, is now hitting .234 with four homers and 14 RBI. The backstop was great last year between High-A and Triple-A with a .323 batting average to go along with 25 homers and 95 RBI, but he has been off to a slow start in his first full season Triple-A. Still, one of Pittsburgh's better prospects, Rodriguez, should get a chance this season, pending he can continue to trend up. With the Pirates also having the former No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis at catcher, Rodriguez has also played second base and outfield with a potential future at one of the positions. Regardless, Rodriguez offers good power and on-base skills to go along with his versatility. He is a name to monitor in redraft leagues and is worth rostering in dynasty leagues.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher prospect Endy Rodriguez (forearm) is dealing with a right forearm strain. The 22-year-old will be evaluated on Monday, and the Pirates should have more of a clear timetable then. "Obviously, he's really important so we want to make sure we have all the information we can," said Pirates general manager Ben Cherington. Rodriguez was placed on the 7-day injured list Friday at Triple-A Indianapolis. He is slashing .263/.333/.456 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and 10 runs across 66 plate appearances in 2023. Fantasy managers should continue to stash Rodriguez in deep leagues for now.

Despite a strong showing in Spring Training, the Pittsburgh Pirates have optioned catcher prospect Endy Rodriguez to Triple-A. It's a bit of a surprise to see the 22-year-old sent down with his main competition coming from veteran defensive specialist Austin Hedges. Rodriguez hit .412 this spring with one RBI and hit .323 with 25 homers and 95 RBI between High-A and Triple-A this past season. The versatile catcher has also seen time in the outfield and second base. With a very patience eye at the plate and low strikeout rate, Rodriguez has the makings of a future big leaguer, sooner than later. Dynasty managers would be wise to hold Rodriguez and managers in redraft leagues should keep an eye on his status once the season starts with his ability to hit the ball at one of the harder positions to fulfill.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez broke out last season by hitting .323 with 25 home runs, 95 RBI and a .966 OPS while climbing three levels of the minors. He became the team's top prospect and finished the year with six games at Triple-A Indianapolis. There's little doubt he'll reach the big leagues in 2023, but manager Derek Shelton said his exact role is still to be determined. Rodriguez played 75 of his 125 games at catcher last year but also saw time at first base, second base and left field, in addition to designated hitter. The 22-year-old is extremely athletic and versatile, making him even more intriguing as a long-term fantasy asset. It's still possible Rodriguez settles in as an every-day catcher at the next level.