Pirates bring back trusted name to help stabilize catching future

Amid all the new arrivals at Pittsburgh Pirates spring training last week, there was also a reunion with a familiar face. Jacob Stallings, a former seventh-round pick by Pittsburgh who spent the better part of nine years in the Pirates organization, is back with the team as a specialist in the baseball operations department.

In Stallings, the Pirates aren’t just welcoming back a former Gold Glove catcher. They’re bringing home a steady voice, a trusted mentor and a player who understands — deeply — what it takes to survive and thrive behind the plate in Pittsburgh.

Stallings’ offensive numbers never defined him. His impact was built on preparation, pitch framing, game-calling, toughness and accountability. With a young and relatively inexperienced catching group that includes Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez and Rafael Flores, the kind of expertise that Stallings can bring is invaluable.

Stallings won a Gold Glove in 2021. From 2019–20, he erased 36.2% of would-be base stealers. He became the stabilizing force for pitching staffs that desperately needed one. That kind of experience matters for a team whose future depends heavily on young arms.

Pirates hire Jacob Stallings to mentor young catching staff

When the Pirates selected Davis No. 1 overall in 2021, Stallings told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he envisioned finishing his playing career by mentoring him. Now, he'll finally get that chance.

Davis’ journey hasn’t been linear. He’s experienced defensive scrutiny, positional questions, offensive adjustments and the pressure that comes with being a top overall pick in a rebuilding franchise. There may be no one better suited to guide him through that than Stallings — someone who was designated for assignment, fought his way back, developed defensively and earned respect the hard way.

Stallings understands what it feels like to fight for playing time, hear criticism, reinvent yourself, and outwork expectations. That shared perspective is critical.

Rodriguez, for his part, brings athleticism and offensive upside. But like any young catcher, he’s still refining the details that separate good from elite. Fortunately, those details — game calling, blocking consistency, handling veteran pitchers, and preparing for hitters — are exactly those on which Stallings built his career.

If the Pirates want Rodriguez to become a complete catcher — not just an offensive contributor who can handle the position — this is the exact type of mentor you assign.

For the Pirates, bringing Stallings back isn't just a nostalgia play. It's targeted development at a key position. The Pirates understand that their pitching pipeline is strong and that catcher defense can make or break young arms. They understand that their young catching staff is central to the franchise’s future, and they are hiring accordingly.

Stallings once carried the standard behind the plate in Pittsburgh. Now, he gets to pass it on.