The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed catcher Joey Bart on the seven-day concussion injured list and reinstated catcher Endy Rodríguez. Bart was struck on the side of the head in the fourth inning during Tuesday night’s game in Arizona against the Diamondbacks. He remained in the game at the time. Then, while warming up Joey Wentz to start the bottom of the fifth inning, he abruptly rose from his crouch and took himself out of the game. Rodríguez, who went on the IL on April 15 with a lacerated finger, is ready just in time to take his place.
We have ended the rehab assignment of C/1B Endy Rodríguez and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list.
C Joey Bart was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 28, 2025
Pirates Place Bart on IL, Reinstate Rodríguez
Bart had been one of the Pirates’ better hitters at the start of the season, hitting .297/.416/.405 at the end of April. However, he’s slumped since then, hitting .183/.272/.208 in May, dropping his overall stat line to .240/.347/.308. He has just one home run, a far cry from the 13 he delivered last year. Recently, he’s been pressed for playing time by Henry Davis. Davis triggered the Pirates’ comeback victory on Tuesday evening with a two-run home run, a double, and two runs scored.
The versatile Rodríguez was the Pirates’ Opening Day first baseman as Spencer Horwitz began the year on the IL. Seeing action at the first base bag and behind the dish, Rodríguez went 8-for-45 before his injury. Rehabbing at Triple-A Indianapolis, he was 4-for-26 with two home runs.
It’s expected that both Rodríguez and Davis will see action behind the plate for the Pirates while Bart recovers. Davis was penciled in Wednesday’s starting lineup, hitting sixth. Since joining the team, he’s been the personal catcher for Paul Skenes, who’s scheduled to pitch Wednesday’s game. The switch-hitting Rodríguez might also see action at first base, spelling the left-handed-swinging Horwitz against the tougher left-handed pitchers.
Main Image Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
