When to Expect the Davis/Rodriguez Call Up

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Donnie Roberts II. Follow him on Twitter @OnTo74

Pirates fans should be excited about the idea of Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez joining the club sometime this year. But you must ask yourself, “Is that even realistic?”. 

On paper the decision looks easy. The Major League club’s starting catcher is hitting .174. Surely the Pirates see the success Rodriguez had in triple-A last year and this year, and Davis’ success in double-A as a twenty-three year old. So why not put the team’s second and third best prospect in the majors, knowing that the catcher position is a weakness?

Fans should take the most realistic approach to this situation. The Pirates typically let their players develop for a while in triple-A before sending them to the big leagues. While in triple-A, Andrew McCutchen played 201 games, Neil Walker played 298 games, and Josh Bell played 149 games in Indianapolis, which is quite a bit lower than Cutch or Walker. To put that in perspective, Rodriguez has played 50 games and Davis has only played six. 

Another reason to believe the call up won’t come as early as some hope, is because the club seems to like Austin Hedges. Yes, he is a liability on the offensive end, but he is one of the best defensive catchers in the sport. His leadership is also a plus in the locker room. 

Look, I’m not saying that I want Hedges to be the main catcher for the remainder of the season, I think he would be a solid backup. Maybe even the best backup in the league. But fans should remember that the Pirates do like to take their time with prospects. And while the call up is imminent, fans should be patient with the development of players. 

As impossible as that may seem right now.