When the Giants drafted Joey Bart second overall in 2018, they envisioned him taking the reins from Buster Posey one day and giving the organization another run with a franchise catcher. That plan still is right on track.
Bart, who is preparing for his second full professional season, was named the No. 2 catching prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline. He is listed behind only Adley Rutschman, who was taken with the top pick in last year's draft by the Baltimore Orioles.
Bart was a top 30 overall prospect on multiple lists last offseason and should be even higher after a strong 2019. He hit 12 homers in 57 games for the San Jose Giants and then posted a .316/.368/.544 slash line in 22 games for Double-A Richmond in the tough Eastern League.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Bart destroyed the Arizona Fall League and for much of his time there was the best prospect in a league full of good ones -- he batted .333 and hit four homers in 10 games before an injury shortened his year.
"I'm just going in there and being competitive and being ready to hit and just trusting my eyes," Bart said on The Giants Insider Podcast earlier this offseason. "That's kind of what's gotten me to where I am now and that's where I'll move forward. Through the offseason I can make adjustments and do drills and stuff to hopefully make me lay off pitches or be on time for other pitches, but mainly it's just been coming out here, keeping a clear mind, and trying to have fun."
[RELATED: What Baseball America's new Giants top 10 prospects means]
MLB Pipeline listed Bart among three prospects with the "most power" from this group of young catchers, noting he "has huge pull-side power -- the product of bat speed, strength and leverage in his 6-foot-3 frame."
San Francisco Giants
Bart, 23, will be a non-roster invitee in Giants camp and is expected to get plenty of starts behind the plate in the Cactus League. While he's not in the plans for Opening Day, the Giants expect Bart to start the season in Triple-A and make his debut during the summer.