Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Minor League Statistical Leaders

Altoona Curve pitcher Roansy Contreras as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies hosted Altoona on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The Ponies lost to the Curve, with a score of 5-0.
Altoona Curve pitcher Roansy Contreras as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies hosted Altoona on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The Ponies lost to the Curve, with a score of 5-0. /
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Pittsburgh Pirates
(Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

wOBA
Endy Rodriguez
.410

As stated earlier, switch-hitting backstop Endy Rodriguez just barely edged out Gonzales for the lead in wOBA, a stat that gives weight to all on-base outcomes and on the scale of OBP (think of a more advanced OPS). While Gonzales had a .405 mark, Rodriguez ended 2021 with a .410 wOBA. Overall, he was one of the best hitters in the minors for the Pirates.

Coming over from the New York Mets in the Joe Musgrove swap, Rodriguez posted a .294/.380/.512 line through 434 trips to the plate. Along with that, he blasted 15 long balls and had a 140 wRC+. Plus he ran out 25 doubles.

Rodriguez’s hit tool has always been one of his big selling points, along with his defense behind the dish. But he ended up with a solid .218 isolated slugging percentage. This is also the third straight professional season where Rodriguez had a strikeout rate below 20% (17.7% this year) and a walk rate above 10% (11.5%).

Rodriguez is arguably the Pirate catcher of the future. He does have plenty of competition at the position, but his plus defense behind the dish may give him the edge over his competitors. Regardless, it was a very promising season for the talented backstop.