The Pittsburgh Pirates could make Joey Bart the catcher of the future.
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded for Joey Bart towards the beginning of last season, giving them some catcher depth when injuries were popping up.
Now, nearly 10 months later, Bart finds himself with an opportunity to take over the primary duties at the catcher position for the Pirates.
MLB.com contributor Thomas Harrigan named Bart as one of 10 potential breakout stars for the 2025 season.
“Selected second overall by the Giants in the 2018 MLB Draft, Bart was expected to be the heir apparent to franchise icon Buster Posey behind the plate in San Francisco,” Harrigan writes.
“However, he had trouble carving out a consistent role with the Giants over parts of four seasons with the team, struggling on offense (.623 OPS) and failing to distinguish himself as a defender. His tenure with the Giants came to an unceremonious end last April when the club traded him to the Pirates for 2023 eighth-round Draft pick Austin Strickland.
“Bart, though, found new life in Pittsburgh, posting 13 homers with a .799 OPS and a 121 wRC+ over 282 plate appearances while splitting playing time with veteran Yasmani Grandal. The 28-year-old still needs to prove himself on defense, but with Grandal a free agent, he’s about to receive the biggest opportunity of his career.”
Bart is expected to split time with Henry Davis, Jason Delay and Endy Rodriguez behind the plate, but if he continues along the trajectory he set out for himself last season, he could end up playing a big role for the Buccos.