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Pittsburgh Pirates Catcher Suffers Major Injury in Winter Ball, Out For 2024

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Sam Connon | Last updated Dec 13, 2023 9:49 AM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez has undergone reconstructive surgery on his UCL and a repair of his flexor tendon, the club announced Tuesday.

Rodriguez suffered the injury during an at-bat in a Winter Ball game in the Dominican Republic on November 13. He is expected to return to baseball activity in 10 to 12 months, knocking him out for the entire 2024 season.

The 23-year-old catcher made his MLB debut in 2023. Rodriguez was ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Pirates' farm system, as well as the No. 35 prospect in all of baseball, when he got called up to the big leagues in July.

On November 13, while playing in a Winter Ball game in the Dominican Republic, Endy Rodriguez injured himself during an at-bat while swinging. After multiple examinations, Endy had reconstructive surgery on the UCL and a repair of the flexor tendon earlier today.

He is…
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) December 13, 2023

The switch-hitting catcher made just one error in 410.0 innings behind the plate with Pittsburgh, all while throwing out 30% of the runners who attempted to steal a base on him. At the plate, Rodriguez hit .220 with three home runs, 13 RBI and a .612 OPS in 57 games.

Rodriguez finished his rookie year with a 0.2 WAR.

Across five minor league seasons, Rodriguez was hitting .296 with an .895 OPS. He also logged notable time at first base, second base and left field on his way up through the system.

Without Rodriguez, the Pirates are likely to start some combination of Jason Delay and Ali Sanchez at catcher in 2024.

Pittsburgh picked up Sanchez in free agency earlier this month after he spent the entirety of this past season with the Arizona Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate. Delay has served as the Pirates' backup catcher in each of the past two years, totaling a .604 OPS and -0.2 WAR in that time.

The Pirates are now down a promising catcher and an up-and-coming starting pitcher entering 2024 due to UCL injuries. 25-year-old right-hander Johan Oviedo underwent Tommy John surgery in November.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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