The Pittsburgh Pirates will place catcher/first baseman Endy Rodríguez on the injured list with a lacerated finger. The injury occurred in the first inning of Monday’s victory over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park, when a Paul Skenes pitch deflected off Washington’s James Wood’s foot and struck Rodríguez in the throwing hand. Rodríguez received four stitches on his finger as a result. After the game, Pirates manager Derek Shelton told the assembled media that Rodríguez would have to go on the IL. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com was the first to report that the move to the IL is official, and relief pitcher Chase Shugart, who was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis when Henry Davis was called up, was recalled to take Rodríguez’s spot on the roster.
A source confirms that Endy Rodriguez will be placed on the injured list and Chase Shugart has been recalled from Triple-A. @AlexJStumpf had it first
— Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) April 15, 2025
Endy Rodríguez to IL Puts Pirates in a Bind at First Base
Rodríguez had started eight of the Pirates’ 16 games at first base while sharing catching duties with Joey Bart. Like everybody else on the Pirates’ active roster, Rodríguez wasn’t exactly lighting it up offensively. In 50 plate appearances, he was hitting .178/.260/.244 with no home runs and two RBI.
Even so, losing the switch-hitter puts the Pirates in dire straits at first base. With Jared Triolo also on the IL, the Pirates don’t have a right-handed-hitting first baseman on the active roster. It now seems that first base will be the exclusive territory of left-handed-hitting utility man Enmanuel Valdéz. Valdéz is just 6-for-29 after Monday’s Pirates offensive outburst when he went 2-for-2.
Adam Frazier, another left-handed hitter, can also play first base. However, he’s been the primary second baseman with Nick Gonzales on the IL, and his presence at first base would necessitate inserting another left-handed hitter, rookie Tsung-Che Chung, at second.
Offseason acquisition Spencer Horwitz, also a left-handed hitter, was ticketed to be the Pirates’ regular first baseman, but he’s just now beginning to take batting practice after being out after wrist surgery. He’ll likely need a long rehab assignment before he can be activated. Meanwhile, there’s a right-handed-hitting option in Indianapolis in Malcom Nuñez, who’s 10-for-36 with two home runs. But the Pirates have been strangely reluctant to recall him whenever he’s been hitting, and in any event, he’s not on the 40-man roster, and they would need to move somebody to make room for him. Thus, it seems the Pirates, who have yet to have a first baseman hit a home run this season, will simply plow ahead with Valdéz while Rodríguez is out.
Bart’s Back and Shugart is Back
Fortunately, Bart, who has been day-to-day with a lower back issue, is ready to resume catching again. Having both Bart and Rodríguez out would have put the Pirates in a tough spot with no other catcher on the 40-man roster. Bart is 11-for-40 so far in 2025 and has been a rare bright spot for Pittsburgh’s offense. If his balky back allows him to resume catching duties, that will provide a boost. Davis is 1-for-10 in three games since being recalled. It’s said that Davis returned to Pittsburgh with a new, positive attitude. Still, the Pirates will take Bart’s bat over Davis’s optimism.
The right-handed Shugart, 28, returns after being optioned to Triple-A on Saturday. Having honed his skills at unpacking luggage, he can turn his attention back to pitching. The former Boston Red Sox has been impressive in limited action with Pittsburgh, tossing 3 2/3 innings in three games without giving up a run. In a bullpen heavy with left-handers, Shugart should see some action if he continues to pitch effectively.
Photo Credit: © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
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