The Pittsburgh Pirates today acquired catcher Joey Bart from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Austin Strickland. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Colin Selby has been designated for assignment.
The 27-year-old backstop made the Giants’ Opening Day roster in 2023 and hit .207 (18-for-87) with five doubles and five RBI in 30 games. He spent the majority of last season with Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit .248 (51-for-206) with 33 runs, 12 doubles, six home runs, 28 RBI and a .750 OPS in 60 games.
Bart has appeared in 162 career games over parts of four Major League seasons with the Giants, batting .219 (100-for-457) with 16 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 38 RBI. He was the second overall selection by San Francisco in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgia Tech, where he was named the 2018 Johnny Bench Award winner as the NCAA’s top catcher. Bart also was tabbed the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all ACC selection after he led conference in hitting with a .359 batting average.
With today’s moves, Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster remains full.
