SF Giants activate C Joey Bart from IL, option him to Triple-A Sacramento

The SF Giants activated catcher Joey Bart from the injured list on Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento.

The SF Giants activated catcher Joey Bart from the injured list on Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento. Manager Gabe Kapler told reporters during his pregame availability that San Francisco had given Bart the news earlier in the day. Bart was placed on the injured list with a right groin strain since mid-May and recently began a rehab stint at Triple-A Sacramento.

SF Giants catcher Joey Bart hits a single. (2022) / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

"He's gonna put his head down and keep grinding, and get ready to come help us as soon as possible," Kapler said. "He's feeling physically healthy. There wasn't a spot on the roster for Joey and we made a decision that was best for the group, which was to option him.

Bart struggled in his short stint at Triple-A, striking out 11 times in 23 plate appearances with zero extra-base hits and walks. Bart told reporters on Friday that his swing felt fine, but he was working through regaining his timing after several weeks away from the game.

It's no secret that the Giants catching depth chart has drastically changed since he was last active. The Giants called up 2020 first-round pick catcher Patrick Bailey (Giants preseason #21 prospect) when Bart went down, and he has solidified himself as the team's top catcher. In 61 MLB plate appearances, Bailey is hitting .298/.322/.526 with five doubles, a triple, and two home runs alongside above-average defense behind the plate.

Given Bart's struggles this season, he was hitting .231/.286/.295 in 26 games prior to landing on the injured list, Kapler pointed to his lack of productivity at the plate as the primary focus in the minors.

"To be a good all-around major-league hitter, offensive player, you need to make consistent, solid contact and control the strike zone," Kapler said. "Those are still areas Joey's working on."

It sure seems like Bart's opportunity to be the Giants catcher of the future has passed. Granted, that does not mean there is not an opportunity for Bart to find a role with the team down the line this season. Kapler said he believes Bart could "absolutely" help the team at some point this season.

Kapler deflected questions about the team's decision to option Bart now rather than allowing him to exhaust the full 20-day window for rehab assignments. While the difference in moves has no impact on the roster, it does cost Bart service time and a sizable chunk of change, since players receive a pro-rated MLB salary on rehab assignments rather than the much lower Triple-A salary.

The Giants have been utilizing Blake Sabol (Giants preseason #33 prospect) as Bailey's backup. While Sabol has been a productive power-hitting bat this season, his defense behind the plate has left a lot to be desired. Moreover, Bailey has consistently struggled against left-handed pitching throughout his professional career. While he may not be on the roster now, Bart seems like an obvious fit to play the short side of a platoon with Bailey if he can put things together at Triple-A.

Even if Joey Bart is no longer the SF Giants catcher of the future, MLB teams can never have enough catching depth. Bart will now return to the minor leagues and wait for another opportunity to prove he can live up to his former top prospect status at the big-league level.