Joey Bart’s rehab move toward Triple-A Indianapolis is making his Pittsburgh return feel closer. But the closer he gets, the sharper the roster question becomes—especially with Endy Rodríguez producing behind the plate and Henry Davis still protected.
For the Pittsburgh Pirates, the clock isn’t just ticking on Joey Bart’s health. It’s ticking on what his return would actually mean for a roster that’s already found a new rhythm.
Bart is getting closer to returning after a left foot infection landed him on the injured list in May. His rehab assignment began in Bradenton, then shifted to Triple-A Indianapolis on June 12. There’s no firm return date yet—still. the Indianapolis assignment is the clearest sign the Pirates can take that Bart is nearing the next step.
That should be good news for Pittsburgh. Bart has been a useful player, and catching depth is rarely something teams can afford to shrug off. But his pending return also forces a decision the Pirates didn’t necessarily plan on making this soon.
Since Bart went down, Endy Rodríguez has earned his spot. When he was called up in Bart’s absence, he delivered the kind of offensive production and plate discipline the Pirates have said they needed from the catcher position.
Henry Davis remains the other half of the equation, and the discomfort around him hasn’t disappeared. Pittsburgh has continued to give him runway despite offensive numbers that have left every plate appearance feeling like a patience test. The former No. 1 overall pick still has pedigree, and the organization isn’t ready to give up on him.
That’s where the roster pressure snaps into focus. If Rodríguez has played his way into a real role—and if Pittsburgh stays committed to Davis—then Bart’s return suddenly becomes a catcher logjam. He becomes the player Pittsburgh could use, but may not have an easy path to playing time.
Jim Bowden’s latest mailbag at The Athletic—discussing the New York Yankees’ need for a right-handed hitting catcher—picked up steam because he named Bart as one of the more realistic options who could be available. Bowden also tied Bart’s value to traits that would travel well in trade talks: MLB experience. right-handed power potential. and remaining club control.
For the Pirates, the hardest part is that Bart’s own situation can attract attention even if the team isn’t looking to move him. Depth is depth, and trading a useful catcher from a place of actual organizational need is one thing. Trading him just because the roster got awkward is another.
If Pittsburgh thinks Rodríguez has passed the point of being a temporary fill-in—and if the Pirates still plan to protect Davis—the Bart question doesn’t stay hypothetical. It becomes something they’d have to at least listen to, even if they never decide to pull the trigger.
The rehab is one story. The roster math is another. And right now, those two stories are converging so fast you can feel the pressure building as Bart gets closer to the field.
Joey Bart Pittsburgh Pirates Endy Rodríguez Henry Davis trade buzz Triple-A Indianapolis injured list left foot infection Yankees catcher need