Pittsburgh’s Catching Corps Solid With Bart’s Leadership

A solid season for Joey Bart, behind the plate and in the batter’s box, could be the difference if the Pittsburgh Pirates see postseason play in 2025.

Bart is going about his work quietly in the Pirates’ camp. From the time he reported to Pirate City last month until the club moved their big-league operation over to LECOM Park for the start of the Grapefruit League schedule, it’s clear that Bart isn’t a big talker.

His play on the field must have Pirates’ manager Derek Shelton and his staff confident that their number one catcher on the depth chart is off to a productive start. Heading into this past Saturday’s game in North Port against the Atlanta Braves, Bart was clubbing an impressive .364 in six games so far this spring.

This past Friday, in a Pirates-Philadelphia Phillies game at LECOM Park, Bart belted his third home run in the club’s 14th game of the Grapefruit League season. Belt has also been placed in the designated hitter’s role in Shelton’s lineup, along with his catching duties. His five hits, combined with a .583 OPS, clearly show Bart’s presence is being noticed by the Pirates’ coaching staff and opposing pitchers.

This is good news for the Pirates as they prepare for the upcoming season. To bypass the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Cincinnati Reds, all being picked by MLB “insiders” to battle for the top spot in the National League Central, the Pirates will need a solid, consistent performance from Bart.

With one dozen games left on the Pirates’ Spring schedule before the club heads to Miami on March 27 for the start of the MLB 162-game marathon, Bart and his teammates have ample time to deliver better at-bats and added precise pitching performances.

When the Pirates’ season ended last September with a 76-86 record for a second straight time, Bart didn’t take much time away from his game before keeping the conversation for 2025 expectations going with Pittsburgh’s pitching staff.

“We had a lot of good conversations about last season,” Pirates’ ace and 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes said of his relationship with Bart. “You build on relationships, and at the end of the day, your pitchers should do well.”

There is much to be excited about what could be expected from Bart once the Pirates’ games count for real later this month. After coming over from the San Francisco Giants in a trade, all Bart did was produce as the Pirates were hoping for. The 13 home runs smashed by Bart were the highest total in his parts of four seasons with the Giants.

Bart's change in baseball scenery worked out well. After three productive seasons playing for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and in 2018, being selected as the winner of the Johnny Bench Award (NCAA Division I top catcher), the sky was the limit for Bart and his MLB future.

Being drafted second overall by the Giants in 2018 could have placed added pressure on Bart to make a sizeable (and immediate) impact in San Francisco. Being the heir apparent to Giants catching great Buster Posey made for big spikes to fill. Such a comparison was unfair to Bart, who was looking to make strides in his game.

Joining the Pirates after being designated for assignment by San Francisco on April 2, 2024, may very well be remembered as the best move of Bart’s career. Now, in camp, knowing he will catch the majority of games this coming regular season, Bart’s confidence and concentration in handling the Pirates’ rich, young pitching staff must be high.

Along with Skenes, Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, Bailey Falter, and the veteran Andrew Heaney should be the five starters. As far as who will be Bart’s backup on the 26-man roster coming out of Bradenton later this month, this is still in flux.

Endy Rodriguez is coming back from right elbow surgery. Last season, he played in a total of 10 games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels.

Henry Davis, who made his MLB debut in 2023 in right field, is probably the favorite to head north to Pittsburgh when deciding on Bart’s backup.

Jason Delay, who hit .287 at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2024, is also bouncing back from an injury-ridden season. With seven games played with the Pirates last season, Delay experienced a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Thus far, after one month of workouts and games played, all three catchers are performing well. Shelton and his coaching staff will not have an easy choice in picking a second catcher for the roster. There hasn’t been talk of the club carrying three catchers.

Knowing there are four able catchers who are proving they are ready to lead a prized pitching staff is a reassurance for the club that others would like to find themselves experiencing.

The maturation of Bart as a pro is evident. Armed with a bat, glove, and a clear vision of leading by example, the Pirates must be elated about the possibilities that surround their 2025 starting catcher, Joey Bart.