What Happened to Joseph Andrew "Joey" Bart?
Joey Bart, a highly-touted catcher drafted second overall in 2018, experienced a challenging start to his MLB career with the San Francisco Giants before finding a resurgence with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024. After an injury-affected 2025 season and a foot infection in early 2026, Bart was traded to his hometown team, the Atlanta Braves, in June 2026, where he is currently serving as a backup catcher.
Quick Answer
Joey Bart was traded to the Atlanta Braves in June 2026 from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Hunter Stratton. This move marked a homecoming for Bart, who grew up near Atlanta and played college baseball at Georgia Tech. He is currently active with the Braves, having recently returned from a foot infection, and has already hit his first home run with the team, including a significant two-run homer against his former team, the Pirates, on July 8, 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Born in Buford, Georgia
Joseph Andrew Bart was born in Buford, Georgia.
Wins Johnny Bench Award and Drafted by Giants
Bart won the Johnny Bench Award as the best collegiate catcher while playing for Georgia Tech and was subsequently drafted second overall by the San Francisco Giants in the MLB Draft.
MLB Debut with San Francisco Giants
Joey Bart made his Major League Baseball debut with the San Francisco Giants.
First Full MLB Season with Giants
Bart played his first full season with the Giants, hitting 11 home runs in 97 games, but struggled with his batting average.
Designated for Assignment by Giants
The San Francisco Giants designated Joey Bart for assignment, signaling a potential end to his tenure with the team.
Traded to Pittsburgh Pirates
Bart was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for minor league pitcher Austin Strickland, marking a new chapter in his career.
Career-Best Season with Pirates
In his first season with the Pirates, Bart had a career-best offensive year, batting .265 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs in 80 games.
Suffers Concussion Injury
Bart was injured with a concussion, impacting his playing time and performance during the 2025 season.
Signs One-Year Contract with Pirates
Joey Bart avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.53 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2026 season.
Placed on Injured List (Foot Infection)
Bart was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Pirates due to an infection in his left foot.
Traded to Atlanta Braves
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded Joey Bart to the Atlanta Braves for right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton, marking a homecoming for Bart.
Hits First Home Run with Braves
Bart hit his first home run as a member of the Atlanta Braves in a game against San Diego.
Hits Go-Ahead Homer vs. Pirates
Joey Bart hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning against his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, to secure a 3-0 victory for the Braves.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Joseph Andrew Bart, known as Joey Bart, entered professional baseball with immense expectations after being selected as the second overall pick by the San Francisco Giants in the 2018 MLB Draft. A standout catcher at Georgia Tech, where he won the Johnny Bench Award in 2018, Bart was seen as the heir apparent to Buster Posey. He made his MLB debut with the Giants on August 20, 2020, but struggled to consistently perform at the major league level over his tenure, batting .219/.288/.335 with 11 home runs in 162 games from 2020 to 2023. Competition from other catchers, notably Patrick Bailey's emergence, led to Bart being designated for assignment by the Giants in March 2024.
His career took a positive turn on April 2, 2024, when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league pitcher Austin Strickland. The change of scenery seemed to benefit Bart, as he enjoyed a strong 2024 season with the Pirates, hitting .265/.337/.462 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs in 80 games, setting new career highs in several offensive categories. This performance solidified his role, and he won the starting catcher job out of spring training in 2025.
However, the 2025 season brought new challenges. Bart suffered a concussion on May 28, which impacted his playing time and performance. He finished the year with a .249/.355/.340 slash line, hitting only 4 home runs and driving in 30 runs in 93 games, splitting time with Henry Davis after returning from injury. Despite the dip in production, the Pirates tendered him a contract for 2026, and he avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.53 million deal on January 8, 2026.
Bart began the 2026 season splitting playing time with Henry Davis for the Pirates, batting .259 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 21 games. On May 12, 2026, he was placed on the injured list due to an infection in his left foot. While on a rehab assignment, the Pirates, looking to clear a roster spot and move forward with Endy Rodríguez and Henry Davis, traded Bart to the Atlanta Braves on June 18, 2026, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton. This trade marked a homecoming for Bart, who grew up in Buford, Georgia, and played college baseball at Georgia Tech.
As of July 9, 2026, Bart has been activated from the injured list by the Braves and is serving as a backup catcher, particularly while Sean Murphy is on the injured list. He hit his first home run with the Braves on June 24, 2026, and recorded an RBI double on July 4, 2026. Most notably, on July 8, 2026, Bart hit a two-run home run against his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, contributing to a 3-0 Braves victory. He is currently batting .228 with 3 home runs and 10 RBIs for the 2026 season across both teams.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Joseph Andrew "Joey" Bart made different choices?