Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on MLB Network that catcher Joey Bart has taken the pole position at catcher heading into the 2025 season. Bart couldn't get going with the San Francisco Giants and was picked up on waivers by the Pirates early on in 2024. The low-cost move worked out for the Pirates, as Bart eventually became the team's starting catcher and finished with a .265/.337/.462 slash line with a career-high 13 home runs, 45 RBI and 38 runs scored in 282 plate appearances over 80 games played. The 28-year-old is in pole position for the starting job in 2025, but he'll need to continue playing well to hold off both Endy Rodriguez (elbow) and former first-rounder Henry Davis. The power and hard-hit skills are the draw with Bart, and it was a nice sign that he lowered his strikeout rate in 2024. However, he'll need regular playing time to be fantasy relevant.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The right-handed slugger will get a breather after starting in each of the last two games. In his absence, Yasmani Grandal will do the catching and bat seventh versus right-hander Freddy Peralta. Grandal is underachieving with the bat this season and isn't a viable fantasy option for Wednesday's slate. The expectation is Bart will be back in the lineup following Wednesday's game.
Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez, catcher Joey Bart and infielder Jared Triolo are all on the bench for the start of Saturday's contest against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Connor Joe is manning first base and batting seventh, Yasmani Grandal is doing the catching and hitting sixth, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa is at third and hitting leadoff against Reds rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder. It will be the fifth time in the last 10 games that Tellez has found himself on the bench, as he has only two hits in his last 25 at-bats over nine games. Kiner-Falefa draws the most DFS intrigue on Saturday against a rookie hurler. Since coming over from the Blue Jays in a deadline trade this summer, IKF has hit .249 (45-for-181) for Pittsburgh with a homer, nine doubles, two triples, 10 RBI and seven stolen bases.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart is out of the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Miami Marlins. The team will give Bart a rest day after he started in each of the last two games. This appears to be a routine rest day, so Bart should be back in the lineup after this game. In his absence, Yasmani Grandal will cover behind the plate and bat seventh versus right-hander Valente Bellozo. The veteran catcher has been heating up at the plate lately with a hit in each of his last five games. He could be a low-cost DFS option ahead of Monday's slate.
The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated catcher Joey Bart (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and designated outfielder Billy McKinney for assignment in a corresponding move. The Pirates have yet to release their starting lineup for Friday's contest at PNC Park against the visiting Washington Nationals and rookie left-hander DJ Herz, but Bart is likely to be in it, either behind the plate or at designated hitter. The 27-year-old former San Francisco Giants catcher returns quickly from a mild left-hamstring strain and should split playing time behind the dish in Pittsburgh the rest of the way with veteran Yasmani Grandal. Bart has been much more valuable in fantasy than Grandal and has enjoyed a change of scenery in the Steel City, hitting .272 (53-for-195) with a career-high 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 63 games since joining the Bucs.
Joey Bart Goes On Injured List, Henry Davis Coming Back Up
The Pittsburgh Pirates have recalled catcher and former No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, according to sources. In a corresponding move, catcher Joey Bart (hamstring) will be placed on the 10-day injured list. A left-hamstring injury that Bart suffered on Sunday against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds will now force him to the shelf for at least 10 days. The 27-year-old former San Francisco Giants catcher has been Pittsburgh's most fantasy relevant catcher in 2024 with a .272 average (53-for-195), 12 home runs, 39 RBI and 32 runs scored. For however long Bart is sidelined, Davis and Yasmani Grandal figure to split the catching duties. In his time at Indy, Davis hit .301 with six homers, 26 RBI and seven steals. He could be worth a pickup in deeper fantasy leagues if he sees enough playing time, but he has yet to put it together at the big-league level.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart (hamstring) was lifted from Sunday's game due to left hamstring discomfort, according to the team. The team further reported that the backstop will undergo further medical testing. He was replaced by outfielder Conner Joe. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to any updates regarding the 27-year-old before Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs. If Bart were to miss any extended period of time, veteran Yasmani Grandal should be penciled into the starting nine on most nights. Prior to the injury, Bart was enjoying a stellar run as he held an excellent .315/.376/.565 line with six home runs and 18 RBI in his previous 25 games.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart will take the day off on Saturday in the second game of the series against the hosting Chicago White Sox. Veteran Yasmani Grandal will do the catching against his old team and will bat ninth against White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen. With former first-rounder Henry Davis missing time with a concussion and now back in the minor leagues to work on his swing, it's Bart and Grandal splitting time behind the dish in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. Bart, a former first-rounder himself, flamed out in San Fran and is getting another opportunity with the Bucs in 2024. The 27-year-old backstop is currently hitting a mediocre .235/.327/.447 but with a .774 OPS, five home runs and 17 RBI in 85 at-bats. As long as he keeps seeing regular playing time, he'll be relevant for his power in two-catcher fantasy formats.
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed catcher Joey Bart (thumb) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 27) on Tuesday and selected the contract of catcher Grant Koch from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. It's unclear exactly what the specific nature of Bart's thumb injury is, but he hurt his thumb on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves and was removed early. With former first-rounder Henry Davis still working on his swing at Indianapolis, Koch will head to the big leagues to serve as veteran Yasmani Grandal's backup in Pittsburgh for however long Bart remains on the IL. Bart was a first-round bust with the San Francisco Giants but has already looked better in 22 games with the Bucs, hitting .267 (16-for-60) with four homers and 12 RBI. When he's healthy, he could be the odd-man out if Davis returns to Pittsburgh before he comes off the IL.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart (thumb) left Sunday's game with an apparent injury to his left thumb. As a result, Yasmani Grandal entered the game as his replacement. Bart has performed quite well in his new home in the City of Bridges with a strong .267/.362/.517 line with four long balls and 12 RBI through 21 games. If Bart were to miss any long period of time with this injury, Grandal should be expected to receive the majority of starts behind the dish. Grandal has posted a .212/.226/.385 line with two home runs in his first 16 games as a Pirate and could be worth a look in NL-only formats if he has to serve as the primary backstop for an extended period of time.
