The San Francisco Giants have announced the decision to designate catcher Joey Bart for assignment, despite being a former top prospect and the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft. Bart was expected to succeed Buster Posey as the Giants’ starting catcher, but his performance did not meet expectations. Bart has played in 162 games with a .219/.288/.335 slash line, and now faces being waived or traded as he has no minor-league options left.
The Giants had been carrying three catchers, including Bart, but they may have made a different draft choice with the No. 2 pick if they had the chance to do it over again. Opting for pitchers like Shane McClanahan or Logan Gilbert instead of Bart may have been a better decision, as both players have shown promise in their careers.
On the other hand, the Giants have purchased pitcher Daulton Jefferies’ contract from Triple-A Sacramento. Jefferies, another former first-round pick himself, has struggled with injuries throughout his career but impressed in camp this year. He is set to start for the Giants against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, eager to make an impact in the major leagues and prove his worth to the team.
