Endy Rodriguez

WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE

2018
DSL:  261/369/400, 115 AB, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 20 BB, 26 K, 2-4 SB

Rodriguez had a good debut in the DSL, starting 16 games behind the plate and 11 at first.

2019
DSL:  296/457/667, 27 AB, 4 2B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 5 K
R:  293/393/453, 75 AB, 10 2B, 1 HR, 10 BB, 13 K, 4-4 SB

After nine games in the DSL, the Mets moved Rodriguez up to the GCL.  He started 14 games behind the plate, one at first and eight in the outfield, and lost some time to a hamstring strain.  He hit well, continuing to make good contact.

2020
DNP

2021
A:  294/380/512, 377 AB, 25 2B, 6 3B, 15 HR, 50 BB, 77 K, 2-2 SB

Rodriguez spent the season with Bradenton and had an outstanding year.  He won the batting title and finished first in runs; second in OPS, slugging, doubles and RBIs; tied for third in home runs and triples; and fourth in OBP.  He ended the season on a tear, with an OPS of 1.110 in August and .983 in September.  Unlike most switch hitters, he hit better right-handed.  There were other catchers with the Marauders who needed playing time, initially Eli Wilson and later Abrahan Gutierrez, so Rodriguez caught 54 games.  He wasn’t as successful at throwing out base stealers as before, nailing only 17%.  He played 18 at first and four in left.

2022
A+:  302/392/544, 318 AB, 23 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 42 BB, 77 K, 3-6 SB
AA:  356/442/678, 118 AB, 14 2B, 8 HR, 18 BB, 21 K, 1-1 SB
AAA:  455/435/773, 22 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 K

Rodriguez had a huge season.  He started slowly, with a .652 OPS in April, then hit well in May and June.  Beginning in July, though, he was the best hitter anywhere in the minors.  The Pirates promoted him twice and he responded each time by hitting still better.  His worse OPS over the final three months was 1.136.  He controlled the strike zone well and had almost no platoon split.  Given their logjam of catching prospects in the mid-minors, the Pirates gave Rodriguez a lot of playing time elsewhere.  He made 14 starts at second, 12 in left and three at first while he was at Greensboro.  His defense behind the plate was so impressive, though, that they began keeping him there more.  Other than three games at second and some at DH, he stayed at catcher once he moved up.  He threw out 31% of base stealers.

Rodriguez was added to the 40-man roster in the fall of 2022.  He’s created a tough situation for the Pirates.  Their catching situation in the majors was a fiasco in 2022 and Rodriguez looks ready to try the majors now.  The Pirates are still the Pirates, though, so Rodriguez isn’t likely to get a chance in the majors until he’s comfortably past the likely “super two” cutoff.  In fact, Derek Shelton announced in December that Rodriguez would open the season in AAA.  And, even though Rodriguez had a dramatically better spring than any of the other catchers, he was sent down about halfway through.  He’s expected to continue seeing time at other positions.  With Henry Davis also nearing readiness, the Pirates have stated that they still regard both players as catchers and are content simply to see how things develop.  Rodriguez’ versatility will, however, give them added options.