The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost one of their most promising young players at a crucial point in the MLB season. Pittsburgh announced Thursday that catcher Endy Rodriguez has been placed on the 10-day injured list because of inflammation in his left hip. The severity of the injury will ultimately determine how long Rodriguez remains sidelined, leaving his status for the remainder of the season uncertain.
MORE: MLB awards predictions for the 2026 season Rodriguez was having a breakout season Jul 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler (left) and catcher Endy Rodriguez (13) make their way in from the bullpen to play the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The timing is unfortunate because Rodriguez has been one of the Pirates’ more productive offensive players during his third season in the majors. In 159 plate appearances, the former top prospect has posted a .267/.373/.467 slash line, good for a 132 wRC+. He’s also hit seven home runs, six doubles and six stolen bases. Rodriguez has displayed excellent plate discipline as well, walking at a remarkable 14.5% rate while striking out in just over one-quarter of his plate appearances. There have been some defensive inconsistencies behind the plate. Rodriguez has received solid framing grades, but he’s thrown out only 5 of 35 attempted base stealers and grades slightly below average at blocking balls in the dirt, according to Statcast. Still, the offensive breakout has made Rodriguez an important part of Pittsburgh’s future. For now, the Pirates can only hope the hip inflammation proves minor and that their 26-year-old catcher can return quickly. If the injury is more serious than initially expected, however, Rodriguez’s season could be in jeopardy. MORE: Scene at Yankee Stadium turns dangerous as 3 fans ran onto the field at the same time Pirates shuffle the roster The Pirates called up right-hander Isaac Mattson from Triple-A to take Rodriguez’s spot on the roster. Pittsburgh also made a pair of additional moves, optioning left-handed reliever Evan Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis while recalling infielder Jack Brannigan from the minor leagues. Fortunately for the Pirates, they already had plenty of catching depth on the major league roster. Along with Rodriguez, Pittsburgh has Henry Davis and Rafael Flores, meaning the organization doesn’t need to immediately promote another catcher. Davis and Flores are expected to handle the position while Rodriguez recovers. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —