One is Pirates fans know well — and want to see at PNC Park on Tuesday for this upcoming homestand. The other is only starting out on his journey as a Pirates prospect but has impressed plenty since the 2022 MLB draft.
Endy Rodriguez and J.P. Massey — a right-handed starting pitcher selected in the seventh round last summer — will represent the Pirates at the MLB All-Star Futures Game on Saturday, July 8 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The prospect-laden event will occur the day before the MLB draft and two days before the start of All-Star festivities.
Rodriguez, 23, is Pittsburgh’s third-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline (and 39th in the sport) but has been having a quiet year with Triple-A Indianapolis. His home run on Sunday was just his first in 32 games.
After a breakout 2022, Rodriguez has hit .248 with a .721 OPS in 56 games, collecting 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 31 RBIs. He has 28 walks against 42 strikeouts while also scoring 40 runs.
This comes after a monster campaign for Rodriguez, when he was one of the best prospects in MiLB and became the Pirates’ minor league player of the year. Jumping three levels, Rodriguez hit .323 with a .997 OPS, with 39 doubles, 25 home runs, 95 RBIs and 92 runs scored.
Massey, 23, made his pro debut this season after the Pirates took the 6-foot, 205-pounder out of Minnesota. In 12 games (10 starts) across two levels, including his current one with High-A Greensboro, Massey has a 2.98 ERA in 54 1/3 innings, with 28 walks and 61 strikeouts.
Opponents are hitting .224 against Massey, and he has a 1.33 WHIP. Massey is not yet ranked on MLB Pipeline’s list.
For context, Mike Burrows represented the Pirates in 2022 and Quinn Priester had the honors the year before that. Henry Davis was selected to go last summer but missed because of injury.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: June 26, 2023, 4:51 p.m.
Updated: June 26, 2023, 5:38 p.m.
