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Georgia Tech Baseball: Bart added to another top draft prospects list

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 07: A detailed view of the first overall pick of the Washington Nationals Bryce Harper on the draft board during the MLB First Year Player Draft on June 7, 2010 held in Studio 42 at the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 07: A detailed view of the first overall pick of the Washington Nationals Bryce Harper on the draft board during the MLB First Year Player Draft on June 7, 2010 held in Studio 42 at the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Georgia Tech Baseball’s star catcher Joey Bart has been added to another top draft prospects list, this time by Baseball America.

At this point, head baseball coach Danny Hall and the rest of the Georgia Tech baseball team know this is their last season with Joey Bart. Bart, a native of Burford has been added to Baseball America’s Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects list. 

Bart has already been drafted once as he turned down the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015 after being drafted in the 27th round. Now, it will be surprising if Bart isn’t taken in the first two rounds of next year’s MLB Draft.

Just a week ago, Bart was added to MLB.com Pipelines Top Draft prospects coming in at 18th overall. It also ranks him as the 10th best college prospect in the draft.

Bart being added to Baseball America’s list of the top college prospects is no surprise. Scouts across the country see him as one of the best, if not the best catching prospect in this year’s draft.

The Buford native hit .296/.370/.575 this past season with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. While he missed a few weeks due to injury, he was still arguably the Jackets MVP of last season. His sophomore season was a great followup season from his freshman season in which he hit .299/.351/.382 with one home run and 31 RBI.

With his surge of power last season, Bart is expected to deliver the same amount or more in 2018.  Scouts will surely keep an eye on Bart’s patience at the plate as well as he’s drawn just 24 walks in 382 plate appearances in his career.

Bart most likely would have been higher on lists had he been healthier in the late half of last season and last summer. If he can play at full health in 2018, Bart could raise his draft stock and potentially even become a top-10 draft pick next summer.

Next: Barat named top MLB Draft Prospect

If Bart gets drafted, he will become the Jackets first first-round draft pick since 2010 when RHP Deck McGuire went 11th overall. Bart would also join two fellow Tech catchers to be drafted in the first round, joining Jason Varitek and Matt Wieters.