Rafael Flores Jr. Ready to Take Next Step in Pirates Depth Chart

Beginning next spring in Bradenton, I’m looking forward to Rafael Flores Jr.’s 2027 season.

When the Pirates recalled Flores Jr. from Triple-A Indianapolis in early July, the rookie catcher was hitting .228 in 65 games. There has always been a high level of hype around Flores Jr. When he was in the New York Yankees system, I remember hearing his name mentioned as the next big breakout player.

In retrospect, coming to the Pirates during the 2025 season was the best thing to happen to Flores Jr.

Fast-forward to last February’s annual Pirates Block Party, downtown, on Old Main Street. My daughter Katie couldn’t attend the festivities with me. She was looking forward to getting one of the free T-shirts distributed. So I arrived an hour before the shirts were distributed. I stood on line; first spot. As time passed, several fellow seniors lined up behind me.

A highlight of the Block Party each year is the Pirates having a few players sign autographs for fans. Just as I waited patiently on line for a shirt, fans came early to meet the players. While I’m on line I see Flores Jr. strolling up and down the side of the street where I’m standing. He was early for his meet-and-greet with fans. The guys standing directly behind me were from the Pittsburgh area, and they seemed to challenge each other continually with their Pirates' knowledge.

With Flores Jr. standing just a few feet away from us on the sidewalk, the catcher was virtually invisible. Finally, I pointed him out to my newest friends so that, if they chose, they could see about getting an autograph. They were thankful but appeared a bit timid to approach Flores Jr.

After the season produced in 2026, I’m confident that should Flores Jr. make a return to the next Pirates Block Party, I, or anybody else, wouldn’t have to point him out to fans.

Going into spring training this past February, it’s safe to assume that Flores Jr. was fourth in line among catchers in the Pirates depth chart. Henry Davis, Joey Bart, and Endy Rodriguez were all ahead of Flores Jr. After Game 162 was played this season, to me, it is a toss-up going into the offseason who is the starting catcher next season.

Coming from Rio Hondo Community College in Whittier, California, Flores Jr. came out of nowhere to maintain a serious look by the organization for his importance to them going forward. He hit .264, clubbed 11 home runs, scratched out 39 hits, drove in 25 runs, and had a .858 OPS – in 47 games.

Besides playing behind the plate, Pirates manager Don Kelly plugged Flores Jr. at times in at first base to keep his bat in the lineup.

Flores Jr.’s main competition currently heading into spring training is Henry Davis. Davis batted .172 in his first full season with Pittsburgh since making his MLB debut in 2023. Davis's accumulated batting average over parts of four seasons with the Pirates is .178.

There’s going to be considerable competition among the Pirates catching corps when camp opens. There was speculation at last season’s trade deadline that the New York Yankees were interested in acquiring Davis. As talented as a receiver, Davis has shown to be weak with his bat; his lack of hitting for average can’t be overlooked after 283 games.

Flores Jr.’s .258 average after 54 games should buy him a serious look this coming spring training, and at the very least avoids him a ticket to the Indianapolis Indians at the start of the regular season.

Competition is said to bring out the best in us when chasing goals. It’s going to be fun observing during batting practice at Pirate City, and later during Grapefruit League games just how professionally hungry Flore Jr. will be to battle for the starting catcher’s role.