BRADENTON, Fla. -- On Tuesday, an inevitability became as a reality, as the Pirates optioned Endy Rodriguez to their Class AAA roster.
Rodriguez and right-hander Mike Burrows were the two highest-profile players who were either optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis or re-assigned to minor-league camp Tuesday evening. Right-hander Colin Selby, infielder Jared Triolo and outfielder Ryan Vilade were optioned since they are on the 40 man roster, while right-handers Wei-Chieh Huang and Nate Webb, as well as lefty Caleb Smith, were re-assigned since they were non-roster invites to major-league spring training.
Rodriguez, the Pirates' top prospect according to Baseball America, had done well this spring, going 7-for-17 (.412 batting average) and a 1.000 OPS in his limited playing time. However, there was never a chance that he was going to make the opening day roster, as Derek Shelton said way back in the Winter Meetings in December that Rodriguez would start the year in Class AAA Indianapolis. However, he has just a two week cameo in Class AAA under his belt, so experience and development was a concern when it came to him potentially competing for a job.
With that said, the switch-hitting catcher seems destined to make his major-league debut at some point this season, and he's hoping to build off of that impressive 2022 campaign that saw him rise up the charts as one of the top prospects in the game.
"I want more," Rodriguez told me earlier this spring. "I want more homers, more [batting average]. I want to help more as a teammate."
Burrows struck out four and allowed two earned runs in his five innings of work this spring. The team's No. 9 prospect according to Baseball America, Burrows showed off his new slider this spring, giving him another weapon to go with his high spin curveball, four-seamer and changeup.
Selby and Triolo also had their contracts selected by the Pirates this November. Selby allowed five earned runs in five innings pitched out of the bullpen, while the utility player Triolo went 1-for-20 (.050) at the plate but showed he could handle his new position, first base.
Vilade was claimed off waivers from the Rockies in November and was seemingly one of the many in competition for one of the Pirates' outfield jobs. He went 3-for-18 (.167) at the dish this spring.
Huang, tossed three scoreless innings and struck out four, while Webb also matched him on strikeouts in his three frames with one run allowed. Smith, a six-year major-league veteran, signed a minor-league deal with the Pirates last month due to the promise for an opportunity to start, but he didn't get that look in a game this spring. He allowed three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings pitched.
The Pirates now have 50 players in camp, 24 of them pitchers and 26 of them position players.
