Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects Most Likely to Be Protected From Rule 5 Draft

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 16: Mike Burrows #50 of the National League pitches during the fifth inning of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game against the American League at Dodger Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 16: Mike Burrows #50 of the National League pitches during the fifth inning of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game against the American League at Dodger Stadium on July 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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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) /

Catcher Endy Rodriguez

Few prospects in the Pirate farm system had a stronger, more impressive 2022 season than catcher Endy Rodriguez. To be honest, few prospects in all of baseball performed as well as Rodriguez did in the second half of the season.

The 2022 season saw Rodriguez play at three levels – High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Across the three levels Rodriguez hit for a .323/.407/.590 slash line with 25 home runs, an 11.9% walk rate, and a wRC+ of 166.

Rodriguez has become one of the top catching prospects in baseball, as well as being a consensus top 100 prospect. He will likely join the Pittsburgh Pirates active roster at some point during the 2023 season.

The switch hitting Rodriguez is an absolute lock to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft. If he were not added ot the 40-man roster he would undoubtedly be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Hell, he’d likely be the top overall pick.