Ben Cherington's update on Endy Rodríguez raises more questions than answers for Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodríguez just can't seem to catch a break. After missing last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, the 25-year-old has already landed on the IL with two separate injuries this season. The first came in April with a right index finger laceration that required stitches, and now he's dealing with right elbow discomfort.

Rodríguez's latest injury is particularly concerning given his recent surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2024 season. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on his weekly radio spot Sunday on 93.7 The Fan that while initial testing didn't reveal any damage to the ligament in the elbow, they still aren't entirely sure of the reason for Rodríguez's pain at the moment.

"He hadn't played a ton, so you wouldn't think it's a volume issue," Cherington said. "He's as hard a worker as we've had. He's doing all his maintenance, his routine, his arm strengthening program. All the testing on that was coming out really well, kind of really since the beginning of spring training. No hiccups whatsoever, and then this thing popped up. So, we've got to get our hands around this, get more clarity and we'll have more to share."

Ben Cherington's Endy Rodríguez update raises more questions than answers for Pirates

The timing of Rodríguez's injury is less than ideal, given that the Pirates already have another injured catcher – Joey Bart – who has not yet been cleared to return after suffering a concussion May 27 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That left Henry Davis as the only healthy catcher available on the Pirates' 40-man roster, so the club has called in reinforcements in the meantime.

The Pirates selected the contract of 31-year-old catcher Brett Sullivan from Triple-A Indianapolis over the weekend and designated lefty reliever Joey Wentz for assignment to clear space for him on the 40-man and 26-man rosters. Sullivan, acquired via trade from the San Diego Padres in April, made his first start for the Pirates Monday against the Miami Marlins and went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI.

In the meantime, Rodríguez's concerning and frustrating injury looms large. While it's encouraging that the initial testing didn't reveal any structural damage, the Pirates being stuck in limbo and awaiting more information in the coming days isn't exactly a great spot to be in with everything the roster has endured up until this point in 2025.

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