Joey Bart, C
DOB: December 15, 1996
BATS: R / THROWS: R
ACQUIRED: Drafted 1st Round (#2), 2018
LAST LEVEL: MLB
VOLATILITY: Low
GiantFutures Ranks: #1 Catcher
Performance: Joey Bart made his long awaited Major League debut in 2020, even longer awaited due to the pandemic, but it was not what was expected by anyone. Bart struggled at the plate, batting just .233 with a .320 slugging percentage. He did not hit a single home run in 33 games, and struck out 41 times in 111 plate appearances. He also showed struggles behind the plate, not working well with some pitchers. But that does not negate his performance in the minors.
2019 was Bart’s only full season, even that marred by injury, and he hit .278/.328/.495, hitting 16 home runs in 79 games between High-A San Jose and Double-A Richmond. He still was a strikeout risk, but not nearly at the same rate, with 71 strikeouts in 338 PA. But mostly, the power that will be Joey Bart’s calling card for his career, showed. In addition to the 16 home runs, he had 14 doubles and three triples.
The only limits to BART in the minors were broken bones in his hands, one suffered in April of 2019, and one to end his Arizona Fall League season in the fall.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Bart was drafted for his bat, but he really has the tools to be a pretty complete package. His power remains his standout tool, as he pulls well to left field, but has power to all fields. He’s not going to hit as well for average, but he puts the bat on the ball more than enough for his power to show.
Bart’s defense is probably a bigger sign of the player he is. Coming out of high school, his ability to stay behind the plate was a question. But throughout college, Bart has steadily improved at his defense. He notably was calling his own games in college, which is not a common thing. He’s gotten batter and blocking balls, and has a very strong arm with which to catch base stealers.
His biggest weakness right now is on breaking pitches, particularly the ones in on his hands. His 2020 in the majors was pretty much defined by opposing pitchers taking advantage of that hole in his swing. If he works on that with the work he put into his defense, he’s likely to find the right fix. Beyond that, his biggest struggle is going to be staying healthy and fit, even more so than usual for a catcher.
2021 Outlook: Bart’s 2020 struggles are going to be partially dismissed in that he’s had very limited chances against high level pitching, with just 22 games in Richmond as his entire resume above Single-A. He was robbed of a chance to learn and prove himself in Triple-A. His 2021 will almost certainly be his chance there, with clear lessons to be learned. His return to the Majors will probably happen at some point in the season, but hopefully he’ll have adjustments he brings with him.
Future Profile: When you’ve got a #2 overall pick attached to your name, there are lots of ways that a successful career could be deemed a disappointment. When your career is following a catching and team icon like Buster Posey, it’s got the challenge of not being a let down. Despite a lot of swings and misses in 2020, Joey Bart does not look like a disappointment. There is no reason to think Bart won’t make the appropriate adjustments and get close to his ceiling, and before his career is done, he should have an All-Star or some personal hardware awards to go on his bookshelf.
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