SF Giants catcher Joey Bart leaves game vs. Cardinals with groin tightness

SF Giants catcher Joey Bart left the game for a pinch-runner after legging out a double in the 7th inning

In a game where the SF Giants finally got injured outfielders Mitch Haniger and Austin Slater back, their starting catcher Joey Bart exited Monday's 4-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals with "right groin tightness" in the seventh inning.

Joey Bart is coming out of the game after a double that put two in scoring position. Looked like one of his legs locked up while running. Brutal timing if he needs to miss any games ... that double got his average up to .303.

— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) April 25, 2023

"It's something that's been lingering the last couple of days that's been lingering," Bart told reporters after the game. "It hasn't been that bad. I don't feel it when I'm catching. It's just sometimes when I'm running at full speed something in there isn't right, but hopefully it'll recover fast."

Bart delivered a no-out double to left that sent Mike Yastrzemski to third off reliever after battling Cardinals reliever Drew VerHagen to a 3-2 count. But Bart limped into second on the play after his right leg tightened up. After trainers came out, the Giants pinch-ran for Bart with Blake Sabol.

Yaz went on to score on a sacrifice fly, and then J.D. Davis' three-run bomb meant Sabol could jog in from third. But any Bart injury would be rough for a Giants team that's lost a great deal of their catching depth.

Roberto Pérez is out for the year with a torn rotator cuff, and Austin Wynns signed with the Dodgers after the Giants designated him for assignment. Bart himself missed the beginning of the season with a mild back strain. Sabol is the only other catcher on the big-league or 40-man roster.

Bart has been hitting this year, in what seemed likely to be a make-or-break year for the Giants' former second overall pick. But he's cut down his strikeouts, got his average above .300, and shown a cannon arm cutting down base stealers.

Joey Bart with a perfect throw to 2nd to catch Starling Marte stealing. pic.twitter.com/Mpw1ZVLPOg

— Caught Stealing (@MLB_CS) April 23, 2023

While any groin injury is worrisome, Bart is hopeful he avoided anything serious. And even when he's experiencing groin tightness, Bart is still faster than Buster Posey or Bengie Molina.