Former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket and second overall pick Joey Bart is ranked as MLB Pipeline’s top catching prospect entering the 2019 season.
Former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Joey Bart is used to be in the spotlight by now. Entering last season, the backstop was considered one of the top prospects in the 2018 MLB Draft eligibility pool. By the time the draft came around last June, Bart had skyrocketed up all draft boards and was taken with the second overall pick by the San Francisco Giants.
Now entering his first full season as a professional ballplayer, Bart is adding more accolades to his name. The newest one is entering the 2019 season as MLB Pipeline’s top overall catching prospect in all of baseball.
Bart put together a strong first half season in baseball last summer, hitting .294 with 13 homeruns and 40 RBI over the course of 51 games. It was an impressive debut for Bart and surely created excitement amongst Giants fans and front office members. With that debut, Bart earned himself the top catching prospect spot beating out Francisco Meija (San Diego) and Keibert Ruiz (Los Angeles Dodgers) putting all three top catching prospects in the National League’s west division.
To go along with being the top overall catching prospect, MLB Pipeline ranks Bart as the 23rd best player overall and the top player in the Giants organization. They also project Bart’s ETA in the Major League’s to be in 2021, giving him a rather fast track to “The Show”.
The Jackets this season will have to replace Joey Bart’s bat and arm in their lineup. The Jackets have three catchers on their roster who will be responsible for the tall task in Kyle McCann, Jamie Tayler, and Cameron Tuley.
The Jackets will get their season started on February 15th against the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Flames.