Alright, so the other day I was just kicking back, thinking about the Pirates’ future, you know? And this question popped into my head: will Endy Rodriguez be the starting catcher for them come 2025? Seemed like a simple enough thing to figure out, but you know how these things go.
First thing I did was just remember what I already knew. Endy, yeah, talented guy. Everyone was pretty high on him. I recalled reading somewhere he was like, a top catching prospect. Digging around a bit, I confirmed that – MLB Pipeline had him ranked pretty high, I think it was like No. 5 among catching prospects before he got banged up. That tells you the potential is definitely there.
But then, the big elephant in the room. His injury. I remember hearing about it late last season. Had to look it up to be sure – yep, Tommy John surgery on his elbow, plus some flexor tendon repair. That happened back in, what, December 2023? That’s serious business, especially for a catcher. Throwing arm is kinda important, right?
Looking at the Timeline
So, the next step was thinking about recovery. Tommy John, that’s usually a long haul. Pitchers are often out 12-18 months. For a catcher, it might be a bit different, but that throwing motion is key. I started doing the math. Surgery late 2023… a full year recovery puts him near the end of 2024. Realistically, getting back into game shape, throwing full speed, handling the demands of catching every day? That takes even more time.
So, could he be ready for Opening Day 2025? Maybe. But ready to be the full-time starter right out of the gate after missing an entire year and recovering from major arm surgery? That felt like a stretch to me.
Considering the Competition
Then I thought about who else they got. Henry Davis, right? Former number one overall pick. They moved him around a bit, outfield and stuff, but he was drafted as a catcher. He caught quite a bit last year when Endy was out. The Pirates have invested a lot in Davis.
- Davis is already there.
- He’s getting reps behind the plate.
- He doesn’t have the major injury comeback factor hanging over him for 2025.
So, putting it all together… Endy’s got the talent, no doubt. The Pirates saw him as a big piece. But that injury is a massive hurdle for the 2025 timeline. Recovering from Tommy John is tough, and getting back to 100% catching form might take longer than just being ‘cleared’.
My gut feeling, after just walking through it like this? It’s more likely Davis starts 2025 as the primary catcher. Endy probably needs time to ease back in, maybe split duties, maybe start in the minors for a bit to get fully up to speed without the pressure of being the guy immediately. So, starting catcher in 2025? I’m leaning towards no, not right away at least. He could definitely take the job over later in the year or be the main guy for 2026, but jumping right back into that starting role after missing all of 2024 feels optimistic given the surgery. Just my two cents based on how these things usually play out.
