The San Francisco Giants started the 2021 season without their highly touted catching prospect, Joey Bart, in their Opening Day lineup against the New York Yankees. Roberto Pérez was chosen over Bart due to his experience and consistent performance during camp. The decision left many Giants fans wondering what it means for the future of the club’s catching situation.
The Catching Situation in San Francisco
The San Francisco Giants have been actively trying to upgrade their catching situation for years, as Buster Posey’s time with the club has come to an end. During the offseason, they added two veterans on minor league deals and selected an unproven outfielder-turned-catcher in the Rule 5 draft, indicating that they are still not satisfied with their current catching prospects.
Manager Gabe Kapler reiterated that Joey Bart, who was drafted second overall in 2018, is the “best possible outcome” for the Giants as a major league catcher. However, Bart has not been a great major league catcher thus far and was barely better than a replacement-level player behind the plate last season. Therefore, Bart was challenged to earn his spot during spring training.
Competition for Catching Spot
There were four catchers competing for a roster spot during spring training, including Bart. Despite this competition, Kapler did not guarantee any of them a spot on the roster. Ultimately, veteran Roberto Pérez received the starting nod on Opening Day due to his calming presence behind the plate.
Bart’s performance during spring training was not bad but not head-turning either. He needs to improve his plate approach and reduce his high strikeout rate from his first full season as a major leaguer.
The Giants are hoping that Joey Bart can take a step forward and become a consistent performer for them at catcher position. Ideally, he would hit fifth or sixth in the batting order. The pressure and spotlight are on Bart, as he is a former No. 2 overall pick and trying to follow in the footsteps of Buster Posey.
Pérez vs Bart
Pérez is expected to continue splitting time with Bart during this season, but the addition of minor league signing Gary Sánchez provides a proven catcher option for the Giants. If Sánchez performs well, he could eventually replace one of the Giants’ current catchers.
Time is of the essence for Bart due to Sánchez’s addition, as he has an option to opt-out if he’s not added to the active roster by May 1. The Giants have also selected Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol, whom they want to get behind the plate quickly.
Opening Day Omission
Bart was not informed by manager Gabe Kapler about his inclusion in the starting lineup prior to Opening Day. According to Kapler, all three catchers (Bart, Pérez, Sabol) should catch during the first couple of weeks of the season.
During Game 1 against the Yankees, Pérez went 1-for-2 and showed off his Gold Glove-winning catching abilities. On the other hand, Bart did not even get an at-bat in the game and came off the bench only in the eighth inning.
The decision to not include Bart in their first lineup of the season is significant. Breaking up Logan Webb and Bart on Opening Day seems to indicate that Bart may not be a guaranteed starter for this season.
Final Thoughts
Joey Bart still has much work to do if he wants to be a consistent starter for the San Francisco Giants. His omission from their Opening Day lineup has caused some concern but also provides an opportunity for him to prove himself as a valuable player.
Manager Gabe Kapler reiterated that Joey Bart needs time and experience behind the plate to improve his performance. The San Francisco Giants will give him the opportunity to do so during the regular season. Judging by the competition for the catching spot within the team, Bart will have to prove that he deserves a prominent place in the starting lineup.
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