Pittsburgh Pirates receive C Joey Bart from the San Francisco Giants.
Joey Bart was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night after being designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
Bart, 27, was once thought to be the Giants’ daily catcher’s potential replacement after Buster Posey, but he never quite made it with the big club in San Francisco. After being chosen with the second overall choice by the Giants in the 2018 amateur draft out of Georgia Tech, he spent four seasons playing in 162 games for San Francisco, where he hit.219 in 457 at-bats with 11 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 178 strikeouts.
After completing his high school education in Pennsylvania, Bart’s father was picked by the Pirates in 1979.
“I knew he had heard when I met him this morning,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton stated on Wednesday. “Hey, you got some Yinzer in ya,” I remarked. He was therefore rather thrilled about it. And I think it’s very great when someone starts over and then returns to their family’s hometown.”
It’s unclear where Bart fits in with the Pirates because they have organizational depth behind the plate and are 5-0 going into their game against Washington on Wednesday. Former No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis has started the season as the starting catcher, with Jason Delay filling in. Along with Endy RodrÃguez, who is on the 60-day injured list, Pittsburgh also has veteran Yasmani Grandal, who went on the IL last month due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot and is “still a way’s away,” according to Shelton.
Regarding Bart, Shelton remarked, “We’ve added another guy into our group who’s caught in the big leagues.”
Pittsburgh sent minor league right-handed pitcher Austin Strickland to the Giants to complete the deal. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Colin Selby was designated for assignment on the team’s off day.
Bart, who made the Giants’ Opening Day roster in 2023, ended up hitting .207 with 5 doubles and 5 RBIs in 30 games. Ultimately, he spent the majority of last season with Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit .248 with 33 runs, 12 doubles, 6 home runs and 28 RBIs in 60 games.
Bart was in San Francisco, enmeshed in a numbers game. In addition to Bart, the Giants also carried catchers Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy. Daulton Jefferies, a 28-year-old right-hander, required a spot on the roster, and he began Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres.
