Joey Bart Bio
Joseph Andrew Bart is an American professional baseball catcher currently playing for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates. Bart was regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft before making his MLB debut with the Giants in 2020. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his defensive skills and offensive potential, earning notable collegiate honors before establishing himself as a major league player.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Andrew Bart was born on December 15, 1996, in Buford, Georgia. He attended Buford High School in his hometown, where he became the starting catcher for the school’s baseball team during his freshman year. In his junior year, Bart posted impressive numbers with a .556 on-base percentage and a .859 slugging percentage. Opposing teams pitched around him frequently during his senior year, which affected his statistical output, but Buford High School still won the Georgia Class 4A State Championship that season, finishing with a 34-2 record and ranking eighth in the MaxPreps National Poll.
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Bart in the 27th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, but he chose not to sign and instead pursued his college baseball career.
Path to Professional Baseball
Bart enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) to play college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He majored in business administration during his time at the university. After his freshman year in 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he earned league all-star honors. During his sophomore season, Bart appeared on the Johnny Bench Award watch list, though he missed the final 11 games due to a broken finger. Following his sophomore campaign, he represented the United States national collegiate baseball team before returning to the Cape Cod Baseball League to play for the Harwich Mariners.
In his junior year during 2018, Bart delivered a standout offensive performance. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference with a .359 batting average and ranked second in the conference with a .632 slugging percentage. His on-base percentage of .471 placed third in the ACC, while his 16 home runs and 55 runs also ranked among the conference leaders. These exceptional numbers earned him a spot on the prestigious Golden Spikes Award watch list and secured him the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year honor. Bart also won the Johnny Bench Award in 2018, recognizing him as the best collegiate catcher in the nation.
Joey Bart Career
Minor League Development (2018–2020)
Considered one of the top prospects entering the 2018 MLB Draft, the San Francisco Giants selected Bart with the second overall pick. He signed with the organization for $7,025,000, which represented the largest signing bonus ever awarded to a position player at that time. The Giants assigned him to their facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, before sending him to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Class A Short Season Northwest League to begin his professional career.
In 45 games with Salem-Keizer, Bart proved his offensive prowess by slashing .298/.369/.613, leading the Northwest League in batting average. He hit 13 home runs and drove in 39 runs, ranking among the league leaders in several categories. His outstanding performance earned him multiple postseason accolades, including NWL mid-season All-Star, NWL post-season All-Star, Baseball America Short-Season All-Star, and MiLB.com Organization All-Star honors. The Giants invited Bart to spring training as a non-roster player in 2019, and he began that season with the San Jose Giants of the Class A-Advanced California League before suffering a hand injury from being hit by a pitch on April 15.
San Francisco Giants (2020–2023)
Bart was promoted to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Class AA Eastern League in August 2019, where he finished the season. Combined between San Jose and Richmond, he appeared in 79 games and slashed .278/.328/.495 with 16 home runs and 48 RBIs. Following the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions, where he batted .333/.524/.767 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 30 at-bats, earning “Rising Star” recognition. He was also named a 2019 MiLB.com Organization All-Star.
On August 20, 2020, Bart received his first major league promotion. He made his debut that same night against the Los Angeles Angels and recorded his first career hit, a double off Julio Teherán. Remarkably, Bart recorded an extra-base hit in each of his first three career games, becoming only the third Giants player since 1901 to accomplish this feat. He finished the abbreviated 2020 season with a .233/.288/.320 slash line across 33 games.
Bart continued to shuttle between Triple-A Sacramento and the majors throughout 2021 and 2022. He hit his first career home run on April 8, 2022, off Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcántara. Playing in a career-high 97 games that season, he struggled at the plate with a .215/.296/.364 slash line, 11 home runs, and 25 RBIs. In 2023, Bart made the Opening Day roster but ceded starting duties to Roberto Pérez following Pérez’s season-ending surgery in April. Bart assumed the starting catcher role but was placed on the injured list on May 19 with a groin strain. Upon his return in June, he was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in favor of Patrick Bailey.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2024–2026)
On April 2, 2024, the Giants traded Bart to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Austin Strickland. He began competing with Henry Davis for playing time, as Jason Delay and Yasmani Grandal were sidelined by injuries. Across 80 games with the Pirates in 2024, Bart demonstrated his offensive abilities by batting .265/.337/.462 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs.
In 2025, Bart won the starting catcher job out of spring training but suffered a concussion on May 28 that sidelined him. Upon his return, he shared duties behind the plate with Davis and finished the season with a .249/.355/.340 slash line, 4 home runs, and 30 RBIs. During the 2026 season while splitting time with Davis, Bart batted .259 with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs before being placed on the injured list on May 12 due to an infection in his left foot.
Atlanta Braves (2026–Present)
On June 18, 2026, the Pirates traded Bart to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Hunter Stratton. The Braves, currently carrying Bart as a catcher, provide him with an opportunity to compete for playing time with their major league club as he continues his professional career.
Defensive Profile and Strengths
Bart is recognized as a solid defensive catcher with strong arm strength and good receiving skills behind the plate. His defensive capabilities have drawn praise from coaches and evaluators throughout his career. His ability to work with pitching staffs and manage game situations has been a consistent asset throughout his minor and major league development.
Notable Career Milestones
Among his most significant career moments are winning the Johnny Bench Award in 2018 as the top collegiate catcher, being selected second overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, and signing for a record-setting $7,025,000 signing bonus for a position player. His memorable debut series in 2020, when he recorded extra-base hits in his first three career games, showcased his offensive potential at the major league level.
Joey Bart Career Statistics
Through June 24, 2026, Bart has compiled 122 RBIs and 31 career home runs while posting a .240 batting average across his MLB career spanning portions of six seasons with the Giants, Pirates, and Braves.
Career Highlights Summary
Bart has established himself as a major league catcher with a career spanning multiple organizations. His most productive season came with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024, where he hit 13 home runs and drove in 45 runs across 80 games. The transition to the National League Central with Pittsburgh marked a fresh start following his years in the Giants organization. His career has been characterized by periods of strong offensive production interrupted by injuries, but his defensive skills have consistently kept him in major league lineups.
Minor League and College Achievements
Prior to his major league career, Bart compiled impressive numbers at both the collegiate and minor league levels. His 2018 season at Georgia Tech, where he won the Johnny Bench Award and was named ACC Player of the Year, remains one of the most decorated individual seasons in his career. In his professional debut with Salem-Keizer in 2018, he led the Northwest League in batting average and earned multiple All-Star recognitions.
Joey Bart Family
Family background details for Joey Bart are not extensively documented in available public sources.
Personal Life
Bart graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in business administration. He has maintained connections to his Georgia roots throughout his baseball career, having grown up in Buford and played college baseball in the state before beginning his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a significant chapter in Bart’s career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He entered spring training having earned the starting catcher job following his solid 2024 campaign, which had seen him bat .265 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs. The opportunity to be the primary catcher represented a chance to build on his momentum and establish himself as a consistent everyday player in the Pirates lineup.
However, the season took an unexpected turn when Bart sustained a concussion on May 28, 2025. The injury required him to miss extended playing time and work his way back through the recovery process. Upon his return, Bart found himself in a timeshare situation with Henry Davis behind the plate. The split catching duties reflected the Pirates’ approach to managing both players while also accounting for Bart’s recovery from injury.
For the 2025 season, Bart finished with a .249/.355/.340 slash line, 4 home runs, and 30 RBIs in the games he appeared in. While the power numbers represented a decline from his 2024 output, his on-base percentage remained solid. The concussion and subsequent adjustment to playing time affected his rhythm and statistical production, but Bart demonstrated resilience in returning to contribute to the Pirates’ catching corps as the season progressed.