The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. from Triple-A Indianapolis and placed catcher Henry Davis on the paternity list, reshaping the club’s catching options as Joey Bart prepares to begin a rehab assignment after a left foot i
A late roster shuffle landed quietly, but it immediately changed what the Pittsburgh Pirates can put behind the plate.
The Pirates recalled catcher/first baseman Rafael Flores Jr. from Triple-A Indianapolis. Flores had been added to the taxi squad on Tuesday. In 53 games with Indianapolis this season, he hit .207/.320/.324 with six doubles, two triples, four home runs and 27 RBI. He made his MLB debut with the Pirates last season. going 3 for 15 with two doubles in seven games to end that season.
At the same time, catcher Henry Davis was placed on the paternity list. Davis has played in 45 games for Pittsburgh this season and owns a .138/.241/.285 batting line with three doubles. five home runs and 17 RBI. He’s played 44 games behind the plate. where he has a .993 fielding percentage. two defensive runs saved and a 52.6% caught stealing rate.
Those moves carry a second layer because Flores wasn’t simply plucked out of Triple-A. The Pirates acquired Flores as part of a package from the New York Yankees for closing pitcher David Bednar at least year’s deadline.
The catching picture gets more crowded with another name. Joey Bart was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left foot infection on May 12 (retro to May 10). Bart will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton on Wednesday. This season. Bart hit .259 with a .670 OPS. one double. two home runs and six RBI in 21 games to start the year.
Taken together, the Pirates’ roster decisions funnel into the same immediate problem: how to cover at-bats and innings behind the plate while Davis is away and Bart works his way through rehab. Flores now has the clearest runway to step in.
Pittsburgh Pirates Rafael Flores Jr. Henry Davis Joey Bart paternity list Triple-A Indianapolis taxi squad rehab assignment Low-A Bradenton