Critics who wondered why the Pittsburgh Pirates traded for Joey Bart have been silenced by his hot start. Bart was the No. 1 draft choice (second overall) by the San Francisco Giants in the 2018 June Amateur Draft. The Pirates acquired the catcher in a trade with the Giants on April 2 in exchange for minor league pitcher Austin Strickland.
Depending on one’s point of view, Bart either failed with San Francisco or was never given much of an opportunity. Before playing in Triple-A, he was forced into action during the 2020 COVID-shortened season when Buster Posey declined to participate. In 162 games over parts of four seasons with the Giants, Bart hit .219/.288/.335 with 11 HR and 38 RBI. Bart, 27, had a nice spring training with the Giants, hitting 12-for-29 with seven walks in 15 exhibition games. However, the Giants had already predetermined that Patrick Bailey would be their starting catcher. When the Giants designated Bart for assignment, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington came calling.
Hot Start by Bart is Just What Pirates Need
At the close of Thursday’s action, in 2024 Bart is 7-for-23 with 3 HR and 8 RBI in seven games. In his first at-bat as a Pirate, he hit a long two-run home run off the Baltimore Orioles’ Tyler Wells at PNC Park. He followed that up with his second homer in his third start at Philadelphia against the Phillies’ Seranthony Domínguez.
On Thursday, at home against the Milwaukee Brewers, Bart was a surprise cleanup hitter in the Pirates’ order. He justified his placement by adding his third homer, a three-run shot, off Freddy Peralta in the first inning. Unfortunately, the Bucs blew the early 3-1 lead and lost the game, 7-5.
Joey Bart’s hot start with the @Pirates continues!
He’s 7-for-20 with 3 HR with Pittsburgh so far. pic.twitter.com/91WlHy5cOn
— MLB (@MLB) April 25, 2024
Meanwhile, Bart has gone hitless in just one of his seven games. For the Pirates, the hot start by Bart couldn’t have come at a better time. The offense has been struggling lately, prone to an excessive number of strikeouts. Henry Davis, the Pirates’ Opening Day catcher, is hitting a mere .180/.288/.230 with no homers. Davis is looking at a ticket to Triple-A Indianapolis once Yasmani Grandal is off the injured list. Manager Derek Shelton is turning to Bart more frequently. Shelton hasn’t come out and said Bart is his No. 1 catcher. But he has started four of the last six games. It’s reached the point where giving Davis, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2021, the bulk of the work behind the plate would be nothing more than a face-saving measure.
What’s Behind Bart’s Improvement?
Cynics would suggest that it certainly can’t be because of hitting coach Andy Haines, who’s presided over an offense that’s finished toward the bottom of the National League in most categories since arriving in Pittsburgh in 2022. Furthermore, any type of statistical analysis to determine how Bart has gotten off to such a hot start since joining the Pirates would be absurd, given that the sample size is a mere 28 plate appearances. For instance, he won’t sustain his present 72.7 percent hard-hit rate. Let’s give it a try anyway.
One thing that stands out is Bart’s 17.9 percent walk rate. He’s walked five times in his 28 plate appearances. He’s never had a walk rate higher than 8.9 percent in his major league career. Bart has swung at just 19 percent of pitches outside the strike zone. His previous career-best chase rate was 30.8 percent in 2021. This trend was evident in his spring training stats (see above) as well. Thus, Bart has come to the Pirates with increased plate discipline, which is the best explanation for his hot start. Perhaps he’s matured as a hitter after being rushed to the majors in 2020. Fortunately for the Pirates, there’s no reason these ratios can’t be sustained.
The Last Word
Then again, maybe Bart is one of many players in baseball history who have benefitted from a change of scenery. Once the Pirates’ catchers start coming off the injured list (Grandal and Jason Delay in 2024, Endy Rodriguez in 2025), Shelton and Cherington will have some interesting decisions to make. Meanwhile, it’s a sure bet that Bart will be looking forward to the Pirates’ upcoming weekend series in San Francisco.
Photo Credit: © David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports
