The Pirates are heading into 2025 with a talented group of young catchers and a new coach to aid in their defensive development.
According to sources, the team is promoting Jordan Comadena to Major League catching coach, a position he will take on while continuing his role as bullpen catcher, a job he has held since 2016.
Over the last year and a half, Comadena has worked closely with Henry Davis, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, significantly improving his receiving skills through weighted balls, specialized drills, and an in-depth analysis of his stance. Although Davis faced challenges at the plate in 2024, his defensive skills noticeably advanced, allowing the team to feel confident in using him as a catcher, especially after limited playing time in 2023.
Prior to his work with Davis, Comadena partnered with former Pirate Jacob Stallings in 2019, helping him transform from a marginal Major League player into a proficient pitch framer, culminating in Stallings winning a Gold Glove in 2021.
The Pirates currently have four catchers on their 40-man roster: Davis, Joey Bart, Endy RodrÃguez, and Jason Delay. Bart appears to be the leading candidate for the starting role in 2025 following a strong offensive season, but his defensive metrics suggest room for improvement, with a -4 defensive runs saved rating according to Fielding Bible and -2 framing runs on Baseball Savant. While Bart is the frontrunner, both Davis and RodrÃguez will have the opportunity to challenge him for the starting position, where defensive capabilities will be a critical factor.
Earlier this offseason, sources indicated that the Pirates had hired Matt Hague as their new hitting coach and Brent Strom as an assistant pitching coach. The team is still looking to fill another pitching coach position for the bullpen, which may be filled by a traditional pitching or bullpen coach, or someone with a different coaching background.
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