The 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates experienced an up-and-down relationship with their catching rotation.
Three catchers made a significant impact on a club that finished 82-80, the team’s best record since 2018. All three will likely return in 2027, if there is a season, to patrol the Pirates’ backstop.
Pittsburgh received a mix bag of production depending on the player, and there remain questions for each to answer and prove.
Henry Davis
The No. 1 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Henry Davis is currently one of the biggest busts in franchise history. A career -1.0 WAR player, Davis has struggled at the plate after being drafted for his bat. An offense-first catcher at Louisville whose knock was defense, the opposite is true in the majors.
Davis slashed .172/.272/.313 with a .585 OPS in 256 at-bats. He set career highs in home runs (10) and RBIs (38) but his batting average would have ranked worst in baseball if he met the necessary qualifications.
His defense makes him a positive WAR play and has become one of the best in the National League behind the plate, earning the trust of multiple Pirates pitchers. Davis threw out 17 of 37 (45.9%) of attempted base stealers this season, the best in all of baseball.
Davis caught a career-high 744.2 innings and recorded a .995 fielding percentage. He recorded eight defensive runs saved but did allow six passed balls in 95 games.
If Davis could hit around .230 or even .215 and drive in around 50 runs, the Pirates would play him more often and trust him. The lack of contact with a 22.1% square up rate and 32.3% chase rate, hampers the bottom of the Pirates’ lineup.
Tasked as Paul Skenes’ personal catcher for all but one start, Davis must improve at the plate if he is going to stay in the big leagues. His worth ethic and mentality are all there, but it hasn’t all come together.
Rafael Flores Jr.
The biggest surprise in the catcher unit, Rafael Flores Jr. has the best power potential of the three. Flores Jr. crushed six doubles and 11 home runs in 148 at-bats. Seven of the 12 home runs came over his last 30 games.
In 47 games, Flores Jr. slashed .264/.331/.527 with an .858 OPS. He showed a patient approach at the plate, walking 15 times compared to 45 strikeouts. Flores Jr. drove in 25 runs during his first extended season in the major leagues.
Defense remains an issue for Flores Jr.. Acquired in the David Bednar trade, Flores is a bat-first catcher who needs work behind the plate, but improved during the final weeks. Overall, he ranks in the 19th percentile in blocks above average (-5), 35th in caught stealing above average (-1), 53th in framing (1), and 53rd in pop time (1.94).
There’s a lot to like about the potential Flores showed in September. Following a disappointing August (.212 batting average), Flores hit .313 and got on base at a .361 rate over 67 AB’s. He recorded eight runs batted in and moved up in the lineup, especially against left handers. Pittsburgh will more than likely begin 2027 with Flores as the starting catching and David as his running mate for situational starts.
Endy Rodriguez
One viewed as a potential long-term answer behind the plate, Endy Rodriguez may not play again behind the plate. The 26-year-old switch hitter only played 45 games due to a multitude of factors.
Rodriguez made his season debut on May 14 after beginning the year at Triple-A Indianapolis. He stuck with the club for two months before suffering a left glute strain that kept him out nearly three weeks. Rodriguez suffered a significant left hip injury on August 10 that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The injury required surgery and Rodriguez is expected to resume baseball activities in seven to nine months.
He seemed to have turned a corner during his third MLB season. Rodriguez slashed .267/.373/.467 with six doubles, seven home runs, and 20 RBIs in 45 games (135 total at-bats). A solid athlete that has played multiple positions, Rodriguez also stole six bags.
Defense can be a struggle for Rodriguez, who ranks in the 29th percentile in blocks above average (-3) and 24th in caught stealing above average (-2). His pop time is one of the best in baseball (1.89 in the 80th percentile), but the injury may force Rodriguez to play other positions if he is going to continue his career. He has experience at first, second, and the outfield in professional ball.
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Don’t forget about Joey Bart and Shawn Ross. They were the only other catchers that appeared for the Pirates this season. Bart began the year on the Opening Day roster but was traded to the Atlanta Braves on June 18. Bart hit two homers and drove in six over 21 games. Ross only saw five at-bats, but hit a two-run homer on July 26 in the 8-7 win against the Cubs. The Pirates have intriguing options and could add a more established player, but may start Flores after a great end to the season.