Pirates Spring Training performer of the week: Catcher Joey Bart

Bart is on a short list of players to actually benefit from a trade to Pittsburgh.

Joey Bart is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spring Training Performer of the Week, as he continues to make his case for being the team’s primary catcher ahead of the regular season.

This week, Bart had at least one hit the four games that he appeared in, with three of the four games ending with him having multiple hits. The team’s contest against the New York Yankees saw Bart hit a massive three-run homer, with another long shot coming against the Toronto Blue Jays two days later.

So far through Spring Training, the former second overall pick has eight hits, two homers, eight RBIs, a batting average of .444, and a staggering 1.278 OPS. Bart had arguably his best season to date last year when he was traded from San Francisco to Pittsburgh, and is continuing to build on that momentum now in Spring Training, further solidifying his status as the Pirates’ lead catcher.

Jared Jones had a strong start this week as well, striking out six batters in three innings against Philadelphia, showing that he’s already in regular season form in just his third appearance this Spring.

Ji Hwan Bae also showed some pop this week, appearing in two games tallying five hits, three runs, one home run, and two stolen bases.