Pirates Prospect Watch: Endy Rodriguez Collects Three More Hits

After an uncharacteristic slow start to his 2023 season, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Endy Rodriguez is starting once again to look like his usual self.

Rodriguez went 3 for 5 with a run scored for Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday night and now has multi-hit games in each of his last three contests and four of his last five.

Rodriguez, who many thought would be one of the first Pirates’ prospects promoted to the majors, has seen three position players called up ahead of him in the last two weeks.

If Rodriguez continues to play like he has of late, he could be joining his former teammates with the Pirates.

In addition to Rodriguez, here are the prospects who stood out on Thursday.

Indianapolis (34-32)

3B Vinny Capra

• Game stats: 3 for 4, one home run, one double, four RBIs, two runs
• Season stats: .300/.421/.400, three doubles, one home run, 15 RBIs, two steals, 20 games

SS Alika Williams

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, one double, one RBI, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .231/.339/.308, one double, one home run, six RBIs, three steals, 16 games

Along with Rodriguez, Capra and Williams paved the way on offense as Indianapolis won a 908 shootout over the Louisville Bats.

Canaan Smith-Njigba also homered while Cam Alldred struck out eight in six innings for the Indians.

Altoona (34-36)

1B Jacob Gonzalez

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one home run, two RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .264/.321/.414, three doubles, six home runs, 24 RBIs, 38 games

C Abrahan Gutierrez

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one home run, two RBIs, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .262/.333/.475, four doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, 17 games

Two Pirates’ prospects in Gonzalez and Gutierrez homered for Altoona, but the Curve were defeated 6-5 by the Harrisburg Senators.

Mason Martin had two hits including a double and an RBI while Andres Alvarez also had a pair of hits.

Greensboro (37-33)

RHP Santiago Florez

• Game stats: 1.1 innings, no hits, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts
• Season stats: 4-1, 5.55 ERA, 15er/24.1ip, 23 hits, 14 walks, 24 strikeouts, 22 appearances

C Wyatt Hendrie

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one walk
• Season stats: .232/.348/.379, six doubles, one triple, two home runs, seven RBIs, three steals, 28 games

Florez pitched well out of the bullpen and Hendrie had one of their two hits as Greensboro was blanked 7-0 by the Hickory Crawdads.

Pirates prospects Jase Bowen and Maikol Escotto each drew a pair of walks.

Bradenton (38-32)

RHP Owen Kellington

• Game stats: 4.0 innings, no hits, no runs, three walks, two strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-2, 4.57 ERA, 21er/41.1ip, 34 hits, 29 walks, 47 strikeouts, 13 appearances/nine starts

1B Nick Cimillo

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one double
• Season stats: .265/.380/.529, 10 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 18 RBIs, 33 games

Kellington tossed four no-hit innings and Cimillo continued to display his power with another extra-base hit, but the Marauders were defeated 5-1 by the Clearwater Threshers.

In his Low-A debut, Pirates prospect Josiah Sightler went 2 for 4.