PITTSBURGH – The smile on the face of Endy Rodríguez might have been even bigger than the one the Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten used to seeing.
Two separate arm surgeries have limited the former top prospect to only 18 games since the end of the 2023 season, but Rodríguez will soon add to that total after being recalled on Tuesday.
“You can’t imagine how excited I am to be here, around the guys, around the energy that we have,” he said outside his locker in the home clubhouse. “It’s one of the greatest things to happen this year.”
The Pirates were in need of a catcher after placing Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list with a left foot infection. The decision came down to Rodríguez and Rafael Flores Jr., with Pittsburgh opting for the former.
“Tough decision between him and [Flores],” Kelly said on choosing Rodríguez. “Honestly just felt like Endy was a little bit more prepared for how he’s seen a lot of our guys more over the years. The energy and positivity stand out, especially for a guy that has had a really tough two years when it comes to injury bug.”
The 25-year-old had a strong showing in spring training but was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the year so he could get more-regular reps and make up for lost time.
It was a slow start to the season, but Rodríguez feels more comfortable of late and joins the Pirates in a better spot.
“I was trying to find the best version of myself,” he said of the last couple weeks. “I was doing all the stuff to get back here. Now I’m back here.”
Rodríguez hasn’t been on the field at PNC Park since a premature exit last season on June 6 in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates, at that time, were all but eliminated from contention.
This time around, however, Rodríguez joins a team that enters play on Wednesday four games over .500, and one that has hopes of reaching the postseason. His goal is to do whatever he can to help Pittsburgh get there.
“Help. Just that,” he simply stated. “Try to help the team however they need.”
With no clear timetable on when Bart will return from the IL, it’s unknown how long Rodríguez’s stint with the Pirates will be. But for as long as he’s here, the Pirates want to see what they’ve always seen from the backstop.
“The things we talked about with Endy, the energy, the positivity,” manager Don Kelly said. “[A] switch-hitter that can go up there and provide good at-bats and good defense.”
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