Joey Bart
Bart in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game
San Francisco Giants – No. 21
Catcher
Born: (1996-12-15) December 15, 1996 (age 27)
Buford, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 20, 2020, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.219
Home runs11
Runs batted in38
Teams

Joseph Andrew Bart (born December 15, 1996) is an American professional baseball catcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). Bart played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Giants chose him with the second overall pick of the 2018 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2020.

Amateur career

Bart attended Buford High School in Buford, Georgia.[1] 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 MLB draft, but he opted not to sign.[2]

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.[3][4] He was named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list in his sophomore year,[5] but he missed the last 11 games of his sophomore season with a broken finger.[6] Following his sophomore season, he played for the United States national collegiate baseball team,[7] and returned to the CCBL to play with the Harwich Mariners.[8][9]

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 triples (5th) and 55 runs (9th).[10][11][12] He was named to the Golden Spikes Award watch list,[13] and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Baseball Player of the Year.[14] Bart also won the Johnny Bench Award.[15]

Minor leagues

Considered a top prospect in the 2018 MLB draft,[12][16] the San Francisco Giants selected Bart with the second overall pick.[17] He signed with the Giants for $7,025,000, the largest signing bonus ever for a position player.[18]

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.[19][20] 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 with 9 hit-by-pitch.[21][22] 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.[23]

The Giants invited Bart to spring training as a non-roster player in 2019.[24] Bart began the 2019 season with the San Jose Giants of the Class A-Advanced California League.[25] He broke his hand on a hit by pitch on April 15 and was on the injured list until June 4.[26] Bart was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[27] In August, the Giants promoted Bart to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Class AA Eastern League,[28] 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.[29] He played in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions following the season, for whom he batted .333 (7th in the league)/.524 (leading the league)/.767 (leading the league) with four home runs (2nd) and 10 RBIs in 30 at bats, and was named a "Rising Star".[11][23][30][29] He was named a 2019 MiLB.com Organization All Star.[23]

The Giants again invited Bart to spring training in 2020.[31]

Major leagues

2020

On August 20, 2020, Bart was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[32] He made his debut that night against the Los Angeles Angels and got his first career hit, a double, off of Julio Teherán.[33] 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.[34] He finished the season slashing .233/.288/.320 in 33 games.[35]

2021

On May 4, 2021, Bart was called back up to the majors from one of the Giants alternate training sites.[36] He had one at bat as a PH in the Giants' second game of the double header against the Rockies.[37] Two days later, Bart was optioned to the Sacramento River Cats to start the Triple-A season.[38] 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.[39] Bart hit seventh and caught Anthony DeSclafani while going 2-5 with two singles and an RBI.[40] The following day, Bart was optioned back down to Triple-A Sacramento due to the MLB All-Star break.[41]

2022

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.[42] Bart scuffled in his brief look and was optioned down to Triple-A Sacramento on June 8, after the Giants traded for Austin Wynns.[43] Playing in a career–high 97 games, Bart hit .215/.296/.364 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI.[44]

2023

Bart made the Opening Day roster for the Giants in 2023, but ceded starting duties to Roberto Pérez to begin the year.[45] After Pérez underwent season–ending surgery on April 13, Bart assumed the starting role, with Blake Sabol serving as the backup.[46] He hit .231 in 26 games before being placed on the injured list on May 19 with a groin strain.[47] 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.[48]

References

  1. ^ "BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Buford's Bart takes his game to a higher, more complete level | Archive". gwinnettdailypost.com. June 6, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  2. ^ Denmantaylor, Taylor (January 27, 2018). "Stock soaring, Buford's Bart builds off breakout 2017 at Georgia Tech | Sports". gwinnettdailypost.com. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  3. ^ "#5 Joey Bart - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "2016 All-Star teams, Home Run Hitting Contest participants announced". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  5. ^ Slappy, Devone (March 23, 2017). "Joey Bart off to a hot start for Tech". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Michael Lananna (April 6, 2018). "Joey Bart Learns From The Best". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  7. ^ Duke, Tyler (June 20, 2017). "Georgia Tech's Joey Bart makes national-team camp roster". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  8. ^ Matt Goisman (June 4, 2018). "Mize leads parade of Cape Leaguers". capecodtimes.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  9. ^ "Joey Bart". pointstreak.com. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. ^ a b "2019 Arizona Fall League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ a b Sugiura, Ken (June 4, 2018). "Tech's Joey Bart could be first overall pick in MLB draft". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  13. ^ Daily Post (April 10, 2018). "Tech's Bart named to midseason Golden Spikes watch list | Sports". gwinnettdailypost.com. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  14. ^ Sugiura, Ken (May 21, 2018). "Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart named ACC player of the year". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  15. ^ Gorcey, Ryan (June 28, 2018). "San Francisco Giants draft pick Joey Bart wins Johnny Bench Award - by r_gorcey - June 28, 2018 - The San Francisco Examiner". Sfexaminer.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  16. ^ Cavadi, Wayne (February 19, 2018). "MLB Draft prospects: A first look at Georgia Tech's Joey Bart". Minor League Ball. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  17. ^ Kerry Crowley. "San Francisco Giants select Joey Bart at No. 2 in MLB Draft". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  18. ^ Pavlovic, Alex. "Giants Sign No. 2 Pick Joey Bart to Largest Upfront Bonus Ever for Position Player". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  19. ^ Haft, Chris (May 24, 2018). "Giants sign No. 2 overall Draft pick Joey Bart". MLB.com. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  20. ^ "Giants' Bart homers twice in NWL debut". MiLB.com. July 5, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  21. ^ "2018 Northwest League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. ^ "Joey Bart Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  23. ^ a b c "Joey Bart Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  24. ^ Pavlovic, Alex (February 1, 2019). "Why Giants prospect Joey Bart's first big league camp is 'invaluable' | NBCS Bay Area". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  25. ^ Pavlovic, Alex (April 5, 2019). "Joey Bart, Heliot Ramos' San Jose Giants debut shows promise that awaits | NBCS Bay Area". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  26. ^ Pavlovic, Alex (April 13, 2019). "Giants top prospect Joey Bart fractures left hand, out 4-to-6 weeks | NBCS Bay Area". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  27. ^ Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  28. ^ "Giants promote Bart, Ramos to Richmond". MiLB.com. August 8, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Joey Bart Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  30. ^ Norris, Josh (August 28, 2019). "2019 Arizona Fall League Rosters Announced". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  31. ^ "Giants invite Bart to Major League camp". MiLB.com. January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  32. ^ "San Francisco Giants call up touted catching prospect Joey Bart". ESPN.com. August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  33. ^ Guardado, Maria (August 21, 2020). "Bart's 1st hit contributes to Giants' romp". MLB.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  34. ^ Guardado, Maria (August 22, 2020). "Yaz's amazing catch helps Anderson to CG". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  35. ^ "Joey Bart stats". baseballreference.com. Baseball Reference. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  36. ^ Klopfer, Brady (May 4, 2021). "Joey Bart is back". mccoveychronicles.com. SB Nation. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  37. ^ "Giants vs. Rockies recap". espn.com. ESPN. May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  38. ^ "Joey Bart Latest Transactions". milb.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  39. ^ Delucchi, Marc (July 10, 2021). "SF Giants recall third-ranked prospect Joey Bart from Triple-A". aroundthefoghorn.com. Fansided. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  40. ^ "Nationals vs. Giants recap". espn.com. ESPN. July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  41. ^ Klopfer, Brady (July 13, 2021). "Tuesday BP: Giants option Joey Bart". mccoveychronicles.com. SB Nation. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  42. ^ "Bart starts new era behind plate with 1st HR". mlb.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  43. ^ "Giants trade for catcher; disappointing Bart sent down to minors". RSN. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  44. ^ "SF Giants position preview: Joey Bart and the rest at catcher". si.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  45. ^ "Farhan Zaidi explains decision not to start Joey Bart on Opening Day". knbr.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  46. ^ "SF Giants catcher Roberto Pérez undergoes season-ending surgery". si.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  47. ^ "Giants' Joey Bart: Lands on IL with groin strain". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  48. ^ "Giants option Joey Bart, squeezing embattled catcher out of immediate plans". knbr.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.

External links

San Francisco Giants current roster
Buster Posey Award
2018 College Baseball All-America Team consensus selections
Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year
San Francisco Giants first-round draft picks
2018 Major League Baseball draft first round selections
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