Joey Bart

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Joey Bart

|team = Pittsburgh Pirates

|image = Joey Bart (48262322782) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Bart in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game

|number = 14

|position = Catcher

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|15}}

|birth_place = Buford, Georgia, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 20

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = San Francisco Giants

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 17, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .235

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 25

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 94

|teams =

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2023}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2024}}–present)

|highlights =

}}

Joseph Andrew Bart (born December 15, 1996) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Francisco Giants.

Bart played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He won the Johnny Bench Award in 2018 as the best collegiate catcher. The Giants chose him with the second overall pick of the 2018 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut in 2020. The Giants traded Bart to the Pirates in 2024.

Amateur career

Bart attended Buford High School in Buford, Georgia.{{cite web|url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/archive/baseball-player-of-the-year-buford-s-bart-takes-his/article_84a94fa6-dead-51ee-9b83-15f4f3356eb5.html |title=BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Buford's Bart takes his game to a higher, more complete level | Archive |publisher=gwinnettdailypost.com |date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=May 2, 2018}} He became the starting catcher for the school's baseball team in his freshman year. He had a .556 on-base percentage and a .859 slugging percentage in his junior year, but was pitched around by opposing teams in his senior year, decreasing his performance. Buford HS won the Georgia Class 4A State Championship his senior year going 34–2 and finishing ranked as 8th in the MaxPreps National Poll. The Tampa Bay Rays selected Bart in the 27th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted not to sign.{{cite web|last=Denman|first=Taylor |url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/stock-soaring-buford-s-bart-builds-off-breakout-at-georgia/article_2c752917-b758-58fd-9b72-effaf47acf0c.html |title=Stock soaring, Buford's Bart builds off breakout 2017 at Georgia Tech | Sports |publisher=gwinnettdailypost.com |date=January 27, 2018 |access-date=March 31, 2024}}

Bart enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology to play college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and majored in business administration. After his freshman year in 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), where he was named a league all-star.{{cite web|url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=959938 |title=#5 Joey Bart – Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |access-date=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/season/index.html?article_id=2275 |title=2016 All-Star teams, Home Run Hitting Contest participants announced |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020}} He was named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list in his sophomore year,{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/joey-bart-off-hot-start-for-tech/S1ea5Qmh7WvUUCGIUmkoSL/|title=Joey Bart off to a hot start for Tech|date=March 23, 2017|first=Devone|last=Slappy|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=April 16, 2019}} but he missed the last 11 games of his sophomore season with a broken finger.{{cite web|author=Michael Lananna |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/joey-bart-learns-from-the-best/ |title=Joey Bart Learns From The Best |publisher=Baseballamerica.com |date=April 6, 2018 |access-date=May 2, 2018}} Following his sophomore season, he played for the United States national collegiate baseball team,{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/georgia-tech-joey-bart-makes-national-team-camp-roster/aj4c8VsrnHGaMPPZZWIADP/|title=Georgia Tech's Joey Bart makes national-team camp roster|date=June 20, 2017|first=Tyler|last=Duke|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=June 4, 2018}} and returned to the CCBL to play with the Harwich Mariners.{{cite web|author=Matt Goisman |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/sports/20180604/mize-leads-parade-of-cape-leaguers |title=Mize leads parade of Cape Leaguers |publisher=capecodtimes.com |date=June 4, 2018 |access-date=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1084615&seasonid=30631 |title=Joey Bart |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=August 12, 2021}}

In 2018, his junior year, Bart had a .359 batting average, the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), a .632 slugging percentage, the second-highest in the ACC, and a .471 on base percentage, third-highest in the conference, along with 16 home runs (5th) and 55 runs (9th).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=9110c11a&type=bat|title=2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=97215cc7&type=bat|title=2019 Arizona Fall League Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He was named to the Golden Spikes Award watch list,{{cite web|author=Daily Post |url=http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/tech-s-bart-named-to-midseason-golden-spikes-watch-list/article_fbe36b2b-fd52-5f98-9fb4-517032ee4c04.html |title=Tech's Bart named to midseason Golden Spikes watch list | Sports |publisher=gwinnettdailypost.com |date=April 10, 2018 |access-date=May 2, 2018}} and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Baseball Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/tech-joey-bart-named-acc-player-the-year/EEERCpjqjhEEr8rilkirkL/|title=Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart named ACC player of the year|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=May 21, 2018|first=Ken|last=Sugiura|access-date=June 4, 2018}} Bart also won the Johnny Bench Award.{{cite web |last=Gorcey |first=Ryan |url=http://www.sfexaminer.com/san-francisco-giants-draft-pick-joey-bart-wins-johnny-bench-award/ |title=San Francisco Giants draft pick Joey Bart wins Johnny Bench Award – by r_gorcey – June 28, 2018 – The San Francisco Examiner |publisher=Sfexaminer.com |date=June 28, 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2018 |archive-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630052838/http://www.sfexaminer.com/san-francisco-giants-draft-pick-joey-bart-wins-johnny-bench-award/ |url-status=dead }}

Professional career

=San Francisco Giants=

==Minor leagues==

Considered a top prospect in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft,{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/tech-joey-bart-could-first-overall-pick-mlb-draft/pwL8KZsqKoHVRQXgJ0udGN/|title=Tech's Joey Bart could be first overall pick in MLB draft|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|first=Ken|last=Sugiura|date=June 4, 2018|access-date=June 4, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Cavadi |first=Wayne |url=https://www.minorleagueball.com/2018/2/19/17027364/mlb-draft-prospect-a-first-look-at-georgia-techs-joey-bart |title=MLB Draft prospects: A first look at Georgia Tech's Joey Bart |publisher=Minor League Ball |date=February 19, 2018 |access-date=May 2, 2018}} the San Francisco Giants selected Bart with the second overall pick.{{cite web|author=Kerry Crowley |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/06/04/joey-bart-giants-mlb-draft/ |title=San Francisco Giants select Joey Bart at No. 2 in MLB Draft |work=Mercurynews.com |date=June 4, 2018 |access-date=June 18, 2018}} He signed with the Giants for $7,025,000, the largest signing bonus ever for a position player.{{cite web|last=Pavlovic |first=Alex |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/csn/giants/Giants_sign_No__2_pick_Joey_Bart_to_largest_upfront_bonus_ever_for_position_player-485778882.html |title=Giants Sign No. 2 Pick Joey Bart to Largest Upfront Bonus Ever for Position Player |date=June 17, 2018 |publisher=NBC Bay Area |access-date=June 18, 2018}}

Due to the layoff following the college season, the Giants sent Bart to their Scottsdale, Arizona, facility, before assigning him to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Class A Short Season Northwest League.{{cite web|last=Haft |first=Chris |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/giants-sign-no-2-overall-draft-pick-joey-bart/c-281673158 |title=Giants sign No. 2 overall Draft pick Joey Bart |work=MLB.com |date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=June 18, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/san-francisco-giants-joey-bart-homers-twice-in-northwest-league-debut/c-284311048 |title=Giants' Bart homers twice in NWL debut |publisher=MiLB.com |date=July 5, 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2018}} In 45 games and 181 at bats for Salem-Keizer, Bart slashed .298/.369/.613 (leading the Northwest League) with 13 home runs (3rd) and 39 RBIs (5th), as he also was second in the league in hit-by-pitch, with 9.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=97e9a106&type=bat|title=2018 Northwest League Batting Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=663698#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Joey Bart Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=September 11, 2018}} He was named an NWL mid-season All Star, a NWL post-season All Star, a Baseball America Short-Season All Star, and a 2018 MiLB.com Organization All Star.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=663698#/career/R/hitting/2019/ALL |title=Joey Bart Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball |publisher=Milb.com |access-date=January 20, 2020}}

The Giants invited Bart to spring training as a non-roster player in 2019.{{cite web|last=Pavlovic |first=Alex |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/why-giants-prospect-joey-barts-first-big-league-camp-invaluable |title=Why Giants prospect Joey Bart's first big league camp is 'invaluable' | NBCS Bay Area |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date=February 1, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2020}} Bart began the 2019 season with the San Jose Giants of the Class A-Advanced California League.{{cite web|last=Pavlovic |first=Alex |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/joey-bart-heliot-ramos-san-jose-giants-debut-shows-promise-awaits |title=Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos' San Jose Giants debut shows promise that awaits | NBCS Bay Area |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date=April 5, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2019}} He broke his hand on a hit by pitch on April 15 and was on the injured list until June 4.{{cite web|last=Pavlovic |first=Alex |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-top-prospect-joey-bart-fractures-left-hand-out-4-6-weeks |title=Giants top prospect Joey Bart fractures left hand, out 4-to-6 weeks | NBCS Bay Area |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date=April 13, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2019}} Bart was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2019-futures-game-rosters?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage|title=Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters|author=Jim Callis|website=MLB.com|date=June 28, 2019|access-date=June 29, 2019}} In August, the Giants promoted Bart to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Class AA Eastern League,{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/san-francisco-giants-promote-joey-bart-heliot-ramos-to-double-a-richmond/c-309815234 |title=Giants promote Bart, Ramos to Richmond |publisher=MiLB.com |date=August 8, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2020}} with whom he finished the year. Over 79 games and 313 at bats between the two clubs, Bart slashed .278/.328/.495 with 16 home runs and 48 RBIs.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bart--000joe |title=Joey Bart Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 11, 2020}} He played in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions following the season, for whom he batted .333/.524/.767 with four home runs (2nd) and 10 RBIs in 30 at bats, and was named a "Rising Star".{{cite web|last=Norris |first=Josh |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2019-arizona-fall-league-rosters-announced/ |title=2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced |publisher=Baseballamerica.com |date=August 28, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2020}} He was named a 2019 MiLB.com Organization All-Star.

The Giants again invited Bart to spring training in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/san-francisco-giants-invite-joey-bart-to-major-league-camp/c-312344284 |title=Giants invite Bart to Major League camp |publisher=MiLB.com |date=January 6, 2020 |access-date=January 11, 2020}} With the 2020 minor league season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Giants assigned Bart to their alternate training site.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Would-Giants-be-more-orderly-with-Joey-Bart-15493949.php|title=Would Giants be more orderly with Joey Bart behind the plate?|first=John |last=Shea|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 19, 2020|accessdate=May 6, 2024}}

==Major leagues==

On August 20, 2020, Bart was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29704534/giants-call-touted-catching-prospect-joey-bart |title=San Francisco Giants call up touted catching prospect Joey Bart |website=ESPN.com |date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=August 24, 2020}} He made his debut that night against the Los Angeles Angels and got his first career hit, a double off of Julio Teherán.{{Cite web |last=Guardado |first=Maria |date=August 21, 2020 |title=Bart's 1st hit contributes to Giants' romp |url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/joey-bart-doubles-for-1st-major-league-hit?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage |access-date=August 24, 2020 |website=MLB.com}} Bart recorded an extra-base hit in each of his first three career games, only the third Giants player to do so since at least 1901.{{cite web|first=Maria |last=Guardado |url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/mike-yastrzemski-makes-great-leaping-catch |title=Yaz's amazing catch helps Anderson to CG|website=MLB.com |date=August 22, 2020 |access-date=August 23, 2020}} He finished the season slashing a weak .233/.288/.320 in 33 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bartjo01.shtml|title=Joey Bart stats|website=baseballreference.com|publisher=Baseball Reference|date=|accessdate=May 29, 2021}}

On May 4, 2021, Bart was called back up to the majors from one of the Giants alternate training sites.{{cite web|title=Joey Bart is back|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2021/5/4/22419857/san-francisco-giants-joey-bart-kevin-gausman|website=mccoveychronicles.com|publisher=SB Nation|first=Brady|last=Klopfer|date=May 4, 2021|accessdate=May 29, 2021}} He had one at bat as a pinch hitter in the Giants' second game of the double header against the Colorado Rockies.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401324214|title=Giants vs. Rockies recap|website=espn.com|publisher=ESPN|date=May 4, 2021|accessdate=May 29, 2021}} Two days later, Bart was optioned to the Sacramento River Cats to start the Triple-A season.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/joey-bart-663698|title=Joey Bart Latest Transactions|website=milb.com|publisher=Minor League Baseball|accessdate=July 15, 2021}} On July 10, due to the hand injury of Buster Posey, the Giants called Bart up again after he was hitting over .335 with an OPS of over .980.{{cite web|url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2021/07/10/sf-giants-recall-joey-bart/|title=SF Giants recall third-ranked prospect Joey Bart from Triple-A|website=aroundthefoghorn.com|publisher=Fansided|first=Marc|last=Delucchi|date=July 10, 2021|accessdate=July 15, 2021}} Bart hit seventh and caught Anthony DeSclafani while going 2–5 with two singles and an RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401228397|title=Nationals vs. Giants recap|website=espn.com|publisher=ESPN|date=July 10, 2021|accessdate=July 15, 2021}} The following day, Bart was optioned back down to Triple-A Sacramento during the All-Star break.{{cite web|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2021/7/13/22574867/san-francisco-giants-joey-bart-optioned|title=Tuesday BP: Giants option Joey Bart|website=mccoveychronicles.com|publisher=SB Nation|first=Brady|last=Klopfer|date=July 13, 2021|accessdate=July 15, 2021}}

Bart began the 2022 season with San Francisco, and hit his first career home run off of Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcántara on April 8.{{Cite web|title=Bart starts new era behind plate with 1st HR|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joey-bart-hits-1st-mlb-homer-in-giants-walk-off-win|access-date=June 12, 2023|website=mlb.com}} Bart struggled in his brief look and was optioned down to Triple-A Sacramento on June 8, after the Giants traded for Austin Wynns.{{Cite web |title=Giants trade for catcher; disappointing Bart sent down to minors |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/joey-bart-sent-down-minors-giants-trade-phillies-catcher-fill-void |access-date=June 9, 2022 |website=RSN|date=June 8, 2022 }} Playing in a career–high 97 games, Bart again had difficulty keeping up with the bat, as he slashed .215/.296/.364, to go with 11 home runs and 25 RBI.{{Cite web|title=SF Giants position preview: Joey Bart and the rest at catcher|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-position-preview-catcher-joey-bart-roberto-perez|access-date=June 12, 2023|website=si.com|date=February 7, 2023 }}

Bart made the Opening Day roster for the Giants in 2023, but ceded starting duties to Roberto Pérez to begin the year.{{Cite web|title=Farhan Zaidi explains decision not to start Joey Bart on Opening Day|url=https://www.knbr.com/2023/03/31/farhan-zaidi-explains-decision-not-to-start-joey-bart-on-opening-day/|access-date=June 12, 2023|website=knbr.com|date=March 31, 2023 |language=en}} After Pérez underwent season-ending surgery on April 13, Bart assumed the starting role, with Blake Sabol serving as the backup.{{Cite web|title=SF Giants catcher Roberto Pérez undergoes season-ending surgery|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-injury-roberto-perez-season-ending-shoulder-surgery|access-date=June 12, 2023|website=si.com|date=April 13, 2023 }} Bart hit .231 in 26 games before being placed on the injured list on May 19 with a groin strain.{{Cite web|title=Giants' Joey Bart: Lands on IL with groin strain|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-joey-bart-lands-on-il-with-groin-strain/|access-date=June 12, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=May 19, 2023 }} Upon being activated on June 10, Bart was optioned to Triple–A Sacramento in favor of Patrick Bailey, leaving Bailey and Sabol as the starting and backup catchers.{{Cite web |last=Emerman |first=Danny |date=June 10, 2023 |title=Giants option Joey Bart, squeezing embattled catcher out of immediate plans |url=https://www.knbr.com/2023/06/10/giants-option-joey-bart-squeezing-embattled-catcher-out-of-immediate-plans/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=knbr.com}} In 30 games for San Francisco, Bart batted a very weak .207/.263/.264, with no home runs and only five RBIs.

The Giants signed Tom Murphy during the 2023–24 offseason. Bart made the Opening Day roster with Bailey and Murphy.{{cite news |last1=Guardado |first1=Maria |title=Snell included on Giants' 2024 Opening Day roster |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/giants-2024-opening-day-roster |access-date=April 2, 2024 |date=March 28, 2024}} On March 31, Bart was designated for assignment following the promotion of Daulton Jefferies.{{cite news |title=Giants designate once-touted prospect Joey Bart for assignment |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39847870/giants-designate-once-touted-prospect-joey-bart-assignment |access-date=March 31, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=March 31, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Guardado |first1=Maria |title=Giants DFA former first-round pick Bart |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joey-bart-designated-for-assignment |access-date=March 31, 2024 |work=MLB.com |date=March 31, 2024}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On April 2, 2024, the Giants traded Bart to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Austin Strickland.{{cite news|last1=Stumpf|first1=Alex|title=Pirates trade for former No. 2 overall pick Joey Bart from Giants|url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/joey-bart-traded-to-pirates-from-giant|publisher=MLB.coms|date=April 2, 2024|access-date=April 3, 2024}} He began competing with Henry Davis for playing time, as Jason Delay and Yasmani Grandal were injured.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/pirates-joey-bart-giants-1a01aa9952aee67432c6adee508ce579|title=Pirates' Joey Bart enjoying new team as Giants' former top prospect returns to San Francisco|first=Eric|last=He|work=Associated Press|date=April 26, 2024|accessdate=May 6, 2024}} Across 80 games for the Pirates in 2024, Bart batted .265/.337/.462 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI.{{Cite web |title=Joey Bart Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/joey-bart-663698 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}