DUNEDIN, Fla. — With just two days remaining in spring training, the Pirates have announced a late addition to the group competing to see time at first base early on in the regular season. That addition is Endy Rodriguez, who manager Derek Shelton announced will make the opening day roster Sunday morning.
Despite having a familiarity at first base, Shelton, along with general manager Ben Cherington, both expressed early on this spring that Rodriguez would only see playing time at catcher throughout the preseason due to him having missed all of 2024 from elbow surgery. However, after deciding that he would make the opening day roster as the club’s backup catcher, the coaching staff then felt it was time for him also to start working at his secondary position.
"To say that was the plan all along, I would be lying to you,” Shelton said. “It has not been the plan all along. It has been something we have discussed, because of his skillset, all along. But organizationally, and to Endy, it was important for him to know that we view him as a catcher.
“… I think the thought process throughout the whole thing was that we want him to focus on catching. We want him to view himself as a catcher, because that's how we view him now and long term. The fact that with where our roster is at, his ability to play that position and the quality of what his at-bats have been, it came to a point where we were like, ‘Alright, now we need to explore where that option is.’ ”
Rodriguez, who entered Sunday batting .321 with 1.057 OPS in 14 Grapefruit League games, earned the backup catcher job over Henry Davis, who was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis Saturday evening. Shelton said he was pleased with how both catchers performed this spring, but ultimately felt that Rodriguez was the “better fit” for the club’s opening day roster.
“I think it's a credit to him,” Shelton said. “I know he came back and played a little bit down here, Altoona and Indy last year, but I think it's a credit to how he dominated his offseason. His body looks completely different. He's added strength. But really, just the quality and patience within his at-bats is what has really stood out.”
Shelton said that Rodriguez will see time at first base before spring training concludes. He added that catcher and first base will be the only two spots Rodriguez sees time at this season, despite him also having played second base and left field as a minor leaguer.
Nicolas not making the team
Multiple sources informed the Post-Gazette that Kyle Nicolas will not make the club’s opening day roster. A 26-year-old right-hander, Nicolas was a regular in last year’s bullpen, going 2-2 with a 3.95 ERA over 54 ⅔ innings.
Nicolas was one of the team’s most productive relief arms this spring, allowing just one earned run over nine innings of work in Grapefruit League play, the most thrown by any Pirates reliever entering Sunday’s contest against the Blue Jays. However, Nicolas did struggle with control, walking eight batters throughout the preseason. That, along with him being one of the few relievers competing for a roster spot still having minor league options, likely led to him not making the team.
Shelton was asked Sunday morning about his team’s bullpen and the challenges that come with having so many tight competitions for the eight spots. The Pirates manager viewed the challenge as a position, expressing that it’s a sign of depth that didn’t exist at this time last year.
“It’s extremely challenging and we’re a day away from breaking and we have not figured out what our bullpen decisions are going to be,” Shelton said. “This is a good thing for us. We’ve brought in depth so there’s competition. And when there’s competition for spots at the end of your bullpen, with guys that have been there and done that or guys that have really high upside, that’s where we have to make challenging decisions that we still have 24 hours to make.”
Similar to last Sunday, Shelton was again asked if his team has a closer. Once again, Shelton said the Pirates do not, at this time, have anyone dedicated to the closer role, although this time, the Pirates’ skipper made a point to shine some praise on David Bednar, a two-time All-Star who previously held the role for the last four seasons.
“I think we’ll talk about it but I will say that I’m very pleased with the way that David has thrown the ball the last couple times out,” Shelton said. “It’s been really good.”
First Published: March 23, 2025, 5:14 p.m.
Updated: March 24, 2025, 4:41 p.m.
