Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Pirates are approaching the 2025 season with confidence in their trio of catchers, Joey Bart, Henry Davis, and Endy Rodríguez. General Manager Ben Cherington expressed satisfaction with the current catcher lineup during the GM Meetings in San Antonio. He stated, "Right now, we feel some sense of strength in having all three of them."

The Pirates have been seeking stability at the catcher position since trading Jacob Stallings after the 2021 season. Over recent years, they have signed veteran catchers on one-year deals to fill this role. In 2024, Yasmani Grandal led the team with 560 1/3 innings caught.

Joey Bart emerged as a key player for the Pirates after being acquired from the Giants in April. His performance included a .799 OPS and 13 home runs over 80 games. Cherington remarked, “Joey certainly took a step forward,” adding that Bart has "earned a spot" for next season.

Despite Bart's success, questions remain about Davis and Rodríguez. Davis struggled in the Majors but excelled in the Minors with a .936 OPS. He is working on adjustments this offseason to improve his performance at the plate. Rodríguez faced a brief scare with a right UCL injury but is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Cherington noted that both young catchers are still valuable behind the plate and that there is no rush to move them to other positions such as first base or outfield. "We’re not anxious to move out of that group," he said.

As Spring Training approaches, Pittsburgh remains optimistic about its catching depth and potential improvements among its players.