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Rum Bunter’s Top Ten Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: End of 2022

ByNoah Wright|
Jul 29, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first round pick Termarr Johnson and fourth overall player drafted in the 2022 MLB Draft takes batting practice before the Pirates host the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first round pick Termarr Johnson and fourth overall player drafted in the 2022 MLB Draft takes batting practice before the Pirates host the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Pittsburgh Pirates
BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 16: Endy Rodriguez #80 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a picture during the 2022 Photo Day at LECOM Park on March 16, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Number Three – Catcher Endy Rodriguez
Pre-season ranking: #10

Endy Rodriguez has done nothing but hit since arriving at the Pittsburgh Pirates. After being traded from the New York Mets in the three-team deal that sent Joe Musgrove to the San Diego Padres, Rodriguez has posted an unbelievable .949 OPS, .423 wOBA, and 155 wRC+. Those are MVP numbers. He did great in 2021 but did even better in 2022.

On the season, Rodriguez slashed .323/.407/.590 with 25 dingers in 531 plate appearances. With an 11.3% walk rate and 19% K-rate, it was the fourth season in a row Rodriguez posted a sub-20% strikeout rate and 10%+ walk rate. He also had a fantastic .266 isolated slugging percentage. Between his ability to reach base, hit for contact, and hit for power, Rodriguez finished off the year with a .434 wOBA and 166 wRC+.

Believe it or not, but those numbers lowball Rodriguez. From May through the end of the season, Rodriguez batted .339/.429/.632 with a .458 wOBA and 182 wRC+. After the All-Star Break, Rodriguez slashed .392/.470/.758 with a .516 wOBA and 222 wRC+. When Barry Bonds set the single-season home run record, he had a 235 wRC+, meaning the difference between Bonds in ’01 and Rodriguez in the second half of this year was just a 13% difference.

Rodriguez has displayed a sound glove behind the dish. He doesn’t have the strongest arm, but it’s good enough for a catcher. Rodriguez is also quite versatile. He can play corner outfield, first base and even saw time at second base this season. But he is a catcher by trade, so that is likely the position you’ll see him at the most.

The only real knock on Rodriguez is that he does not have a ton of raw power. But he has put up an ISO of .230 throughout his minor league career and over .260 this past season. Even if he’s never a 30 home run hitter, he averages nearly 41 doubles and 21 home runs a season (600 plate appearance average). 35-40 doubles and 15-20 home runs from your catcher is more than enough power to suffice.

Rodriguez reached Triple-A last year and put up a 208 wRC+ in 23 plate appearances. At this point, he’s banging on the major league doorstep. It honestly wouldn’t be a major surprise if Rodriguez started the season out with the major league team. Even if he doesn’t, he’ll likely be the team’s starting backstop by mid-May at the latest.

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