After having reconstructive surgery on his UCL, catcher Endy Rodriguez will miss the entire 2024 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Monday night. This is another devastating blow to the team.
The injury that Rodriguez sustained on November 13 while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic occurred during an at-bat.
In 2023, Rodriguez is just one of many important players who will have Tommy John surgery. Pitchers J.T. Brubaker, Mike Burrows, and, most recently, Johan Oviedo are among the players he joins.
Rodriguez had just finished his rookie season when he collided with a pedestrian.220 with 13 RBI and three home runs, but played excellent defense. He caught eight base stealers and prevented just under four runs, finishing 19th among MLB catchers in defense.
His absence also leaves a dubious platoon of catchers, led by former first-round pick Henry Davis, who played most of his innings in right field last season; veteran backup Jason Delay; and recently acquired Ali Sanchez, who played in fewer than ten major league games. While injuries can happen to players at any time, it seems as though the Pirates have had an unusual number of players, particularly pitchers, visit the infirmary for Tommy John surgery.
