Endy Rodriguez exits with right elbow issue, leaving Pirates shorthanded at catcher

When Endy Rodriguez was sidelined Friday night due to right elbow discomfort, it left the Pittsburgh Pirates with only one catcher against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pirates manager Don Kelly pulled Rodriguez after he experienced issues with his right elbow in the second inning.

“We were just monitoring that,” Kelly said. “He had felt it the inning before and just wanted to go out and test it to see. We’re still evaluating.”

Henry Davis finished the remainder of the game behind the plate, going 2 for 4 with a two-run home run and a double for the Pirates in their 5-4 walk-off win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night at PNC Park.

Kelly called Davis’ performance “unbelievable,” given that he came off the bench to deliver not only the big hits but to guide the bullpen through the final 5⅓ innings.

“I think he did a fantastic job behind the plate,” Kelly said. “I think it speaks to him and how prepared he is all the time. He never takes a pitch off. He’s locked in from pitch one until the end of the game, whether he’s starting or he’s on the bench. … There’s been multiple instances this year where he’s helped us win a game from the bench. Things I know are fantastic for a young player to pick up during the game.”

Rodriguez missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an injury suffered while playing winter ball in his native Dominican Republic in November 2023.

Rodriguez spent nearly six weeks on the 10-day injured list this season after suffering a laceration on his right index finger when a foul ball ricocheted off his hand against the Washington Nationals on April 14. He’s batting .173/.246/.250 with four doubles and two RBIs.

Joey Bart is on the seven-day concussion injured list but became eligible to be activated Wednesday. Bart sustained mild concussion symptoms May 27 in the fifth inning of a 9-6 win at the Arizona Diamondbacks and remains in concussion protocol while doing baseball activities.

If the Pirates need an emergency catcher, the most likely candidate is shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who broke into the major leagues at the position and played 73 career games (66 starts) there for the Texas Rangers in 2018-19. He also practiced at catcher for the New York Yankees in August 2023.

“I started practicing because I knew no one could do that,” Kiner-Falefa said. “That’s what I feel makes me very special. I can catch, play short and play center. I don’t think anyone else in the league can do that. If it ever came down to it and I needed that second wind or some type of career revival, it’s in my back pocket whenever I need it.”

The Pirates turned to an infielder behind the plate on May 7, 2022, when backup Andrew Knapp was ejected from the visiting dugout and starter Roberto Perez tore his hamstring while rounding second base in the first game of a doubleheader at Cincinnati. Josh Van Meter caught the bottom of the eighth inning of a 9-2 loss.

“If the team needed it tonight, yeah, I could’ve done it,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Hopefully, tomorrow we’ll have another guy. Hopefully Joey can come back soon or we get another guy because I won’t be backing up here. But I can back up in emergencies. Like today, I could do it. I can do it for sure in a heartbeat.”