With their season spinning out of control, the Pittsburgh Pirates are turning to a trio of their top-10 prospects for help.
In addition to right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester, who will make his major-league debut Monday against Cleveland, the Pirates are promoting catcher Endy Rodriguez and shortstop Liover Peguero from Triple-A Indianapolis, a source confirmed to the Tribune-Review.
The moves could be in response to the eighth-inning letdown in Sunday’s 8-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants, when shortstop Tucupita Marcano failed to execute a bunt with a runner in scoring position and backup catcher Jason Delay struck out with the bases loaded.
Rodriguez, a 6-foot, 200-pound switch-hitting catcher who was acquired from the New York Mets in the three-team trade that sent pitcher Joe Musgrove to San Diego in January 2021, was named the Pirates’ minor league player of the year last season after batting .323/.407/.590 with 39 doubles, 25 home runs and 95 RBIs across three levels.
Rodriguez, 23, ranked a top-100 prospect by both MLB Pipeline (No. 35) and Baseball America (No. 55), also has played first base, second base and right field in the minors. He is batting .268/.356/.415 with 16 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 38 RBIs in 67 games this season, hitting a grand slam and recording five RBIs on Friday against Omaha.
The 22-year-old Peguero, acquired from Arizona for Starling Marte in January 2020, made his major-league debut last season against San Francisco, going 1 for 3 with a walk June 18 in his only game for the Pirates. Peguero spent last season at Double-A Altoona but committed 31 errors, including 23 at shortstop.
He returned to Altoona to start this season, batting .260/.333/.453 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs, 34 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 69 games to earn a promotion. In seven games at Indianapolis, Peguero batted .259 and hit two home runs in one game.
Both Rodriguez and Peguero are on the 40-man roster, but the Pirates must make moves to create space on the active roster. They also have to make a spot on their 40-man roster for Priester. It could come at the expense of right-handed reliever Cody Bolton, who packed a bag and hugged teammates in the clubhouse after Sunday’s game at PNC Park.
