With season spiraling, Pirates promoting top-10 prospects Endy Rodriguez, Liover Peguero

Kevin Gorman | Sunday, July 16, 2023 6:53 p.m.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez takes batting practice with Andrew McCutchen before making his major league debut against Cleveland on Monday, July 17, 2023, at PNC Park.

With their season spinning out of control, the Pittsburgh Pirates are turning to a trio of their top-10 prospects for help.

In addition to right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester, who will make his major-league debut Monday against Cleveland, the Pirates are promoting catcher Endy Rodriguez and shortstop Liover Peguero from Triple-A Indianapolis, a source confirmed to the Tribune-Review.

The moves could be in response to the eighth-inning letdown in Sunday’s 8-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants, when shortstop Tucupita Marcano failed to execute a bunt with a runner in scoring position and backup catcher Jason Delay struck out with the bases loaded.

Rodriguez, a 6-foot, 200-pound switch-hitting catcher who was acquired from the New York Mets in the three-team trade that sent pitcher Joe Musgrove to San Diego in January 2021, was named the Pirates’ minor league player of the year last season after batting .323/.407/.590 with 39 doubles, 25 home runs and 95 RBIs across three levels.

Rodriguez, 23, ranked a top-100 prospect by both MLB Pipeline (No. 35) and Baseball America (No. 55), also has played first base, second base and right field in the minors. He is batting .268/.356/.415 with 16 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 38 RBIs in 67 games this season, hitting a grand slam and recording five RBIs on Friday against Omaha.

The 22-year-old Peguero, acquired from Arizona for Starling Marte in January 2020, made his major-league debut last season against San Francisco, going 1 for 3 with a walk June 18 in his only game for the Pirates. Peguero spent last season at Double-A Altoona but committed 31 errors, including 23 at shortstop.

He returned to Altoona to start this season, batting .260/.333/.453 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs, 34 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 69 games to earn a promotion. In seven games at Indianapolis, Peguero batted .259 and hit two home runs in one game.

Both Rodriguez and Peguero are on the 40-man roster, but the Pirates must make moves to create space on the active roster. They also have to make a spot on their 40-man roster for Priester. It could come at the expense of right-handed reliever Cody Bolton, who packed a bag and hugged teammates in the clubhouse after Sunday’s game at PNC Park.