PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – When you start the season with Austin Hedges and likely Tyler Heineman as your two catchers it might be hard to imagine that position being a strength. One of the best talent evaluators in the game believes not only will it soon be a strength for the Pirates, but they could do something with catchers the game hasn't seen.
MLB.com Jonathan Mayo has covered MLB, the MLB Draft and minor-league prospects since 1999. He told Cook and Joe Wednesday on 93.7 The Fan he would see a situation very soon that not only do you have one good catcher, but two that are so good, when one is catching, the other is playing another position.
He said Pirates 2021 first-round pick Henry Davis has a bat you always want in the lineup and has the ability to play other positions. Endy Rodriguez spent last year shooting up the system. Mayo calls him super-athletic and someone you can play anywhere in the infield or outfield. Then there is Rodriguez hitting.
"Endy Rodriguez has a chance to be a true impact hitter, he's going to be the star of that trade," Mayo said on the Cook and Joe on 93.7 The Fan. "He will hit in the middle of the lineup and do a lot of damage."
Mayo says he believes Rodriguez, who completed the Joe Musgrove trade coming over from the Mets, will be the best player in that deal. It's a trade that included closer David Bednar. The 22-year-old switch-hitter combined to play 125 games last year from High-A to AAA hitting 39 doubles, 25 homers, 95 RBI with a .323 average and .407 on-base percentage. He did so while catching, playing second base, first base, left field and as a designated hitter.
Davis tried to play through last year with a broken wrist, playing in only 59 games with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 42 RBI, a .264 average and .380 on-base percentage. Mayo says he definitely has the arm to catch, but wonders about his durability at the position although he said he talked with Davis recently and he's determined to catch. He wants to prove to everyone he can do it and Mayo believes that edge will serve him well going forward.
He projects both could be in Pittsburgh this year, with Rodriguez likely first due to his flexibility and the season he had last year.
