Giants Demote Former No. 2 Overall Draft Pick

It's been a tough season for San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart. The 25-year-old top prospect was handed the starting catcher's job after Buster Posey retired at the end of the 2021 season. But Bart has struggled mightily this year, batting .156 with a .596 OPS and only 7 RBIs through 36 games. He's now been demoted to Triple-A.

Giants demote rookie catcher Joey Bart for ‘a little bit of a reset. ... We’re very open to the notion that at-bats at Triple-A out of the spotlight can help get a guy on track.' And more on Austin Wynns: https://t.co/dsk8X3627V via @sfchronicle
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) June 8, 2022

Giants beat writer Susan Slusser reports that the Giants are hoping Bart can get his game back in the minors. They're calling this "a little bit of a reset." President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi says they “still think Joey is an everyday catcher ... We’re very open to the notion that at-bats at Triple-A out of the spotlight can help get a guy on track."

Bart is a former No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2018 June Draft. He came up in 2020, when he played 33 games in the shortened season, but only played a pair of contests for San Francisco in 2021.

His top prospect status had the Giants believing he was the answer behind the plate to replace the legendary Posey. And he still might be... with a little more minor league seasoning.

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