Endy Rodriguez is forcing a Pirates decision fans saw coming weeks ago

The Pittsburgh Pirates may not have wanted to make a catcher change this early in the season. But at some point, production forces your hand.

And right now, Endy Rodriguez is forcing the issue.

After a miserable start at Triple-A Indianapolis, Rodriguez has caught fire over the last two weeks. In his last 12 games, he’s hitting 14-for-39 with five doubles and 10 walks, posting a ridiculous .490 on-base percentage over 49 plate appearances.

What looked like another lost stretch for a once-hyped prospect has quickly turned into one of the hottest bats in the organization — and Pirates fans are noticing because the major league production behind the plate has been impossible to ignore.

Henry Davis owns a .447 OPS through 71 plate appearances. Joey Bart sits at .537 through 43 PA. Davis at least continues to provide quality defense and remains closely tied to the Pirates’ pitching staff, especially with Paul Skenes. Bart, meanwhile, is running out of arguments in his favor.

At some point, the “give him time” defense stops working.

Sure, the Pirates could be hoping Bart builds enough value to justify flipping him later in the season. But this team has lost five straight games, the offense has cratered outside of a handful of bats, and the lineup cannot continue carrying a near-automatic out at catcher simply because the front office wants to salvage a couple million dollars.

Endy Rodriguez is forcing a difficult Joey Bart conversation in Pittsburgh

Rodriguez’s situation also deserves context. This isn’t some random hot streak from a Quad-A player. He’s one of the most talented hitters the Pirates have developed in years, and injuries have repeatedly derailed his career.

After missing all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Rodriguez returned in 2025 only to undergo ulnar nerve transposition surgery on his right elbow later that summer. For a while, there were legitimate questions about whether he would be able to handle catching duties consistently again.

So far, those concerns appear overblown.

Rodriguez is now officially listed as a first baseman, but he continues rotating between catcher, first base and DH alongside Rafael Flores in Indianapolis. Flores has earned most of the starts behind the plate, but Rodriguez has shown he can still function as a capable backup catcher while offering considerably more versatility than Bart.

Rodriguez switch-hits. He can play multiple positions. He brings athleticism and energy to a roster that badly needs both. And unlike Bart, there is still upside here worth exploring.

Pirates fans remember what Rodriguez looked like before the injuries piled up. His 2022 season — when he stormed from High-A to Triple-A while posting a .996 OPS with 25 home runs — generated the kind of organizational buzz now surrounding Konnor Griffin.

He turns 26 later this month. This is no longer about future projection. It’s about whether the Pirates are willing to reward performance and give themselves the best possible roster right now.

If Rodriguez keeps hitting for another couple weeks and Bart keeps producing next to nothing, the Pirates are going to have a decision to make. The truth is, most fans already made it weeks ago.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow