Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez to miss 2024 season after surgery on right elbow

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez will miss the 2024 season after undergoing reconstructive surgery Tuesday on the ulnar collateral ligament and a repair of his flexor tendon in his right elbow.

The Pirates announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Rodriguez was injured while swinging during an at-bat in a winter league game in his native Dominican Republic.

The Pirates said Rodriguez had multiple examinations before opting for surgery, which was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Rodriguez is expected to return to baseball activities in 10-12 months.

Rodriguez, 23, entered the 2023 season ranked the Pirates’ top prospect by Baseball America. After playing 67 games at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he batted .268/.356/.415 with 16 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 38 RBIs, Rodriguez made his major-league debut July 17, replacing Austin Hedges as the starter.

In 57 games for the Pirates, Rodriguez batted .220/.284/.328 with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 13 RBIs. He committed one error in 460 chances over 427 2/3 innings while throwing out 22 baserunners.

Acquired from the New York Mets in a three-team trade that sent pitcher Joe Musgrove to the San Diego Padres in January 2021, Rodriguez surpassed 2021 No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis on the depth chart in 2022, when he slashed .323/.407/.590 with 39 doubles, 25 home runs and 95 RBIs through three levels of the system and was named the Pirates’ minor league player of the year.

With Rodriguez out, the Pirates have three catchers on their 40-man roster. Jason Delay served as the backup last season, batting .251/.319/.347 with 11 doubles and 18 RBIs in 70 games.

Davis batted .213/.302/.351 with 10 doubles, seven homers and 24 RBIs in 62 games, playing primarily in right field and designated hitter. He caught only two innings in the majors but was instructed to concentrate on catching this offseason and report to spring training with the pitchers and catchers.

The Pirates also signed Ali Sanchez to a one-year contract on Dec. 1. He has played in seven career major league games, five with the Mets in 2020 and two with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, and spent last season batting .311/.375/.492 with 10 doubles, 11 homers and 43 RBIs in 67 games with the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.