Giants top prospect Joey Bart began catching due to diabetic friend

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The Giants have the perfect teacher-student situation between their current star and future face of the franchise.

As Buster Posey looks to keep his title as the top catcher in baseball, Joey Bart is already opening eyes in his first big league camp. The Giants drafted the two catchers exactly 10 years apart, but in a different world, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Bart would be in the outfield instead of behind the dish. 

"I was a center fielder playing through Little League and stuff like that," Bart told KNBR on Thursday.

How he turned to catcher's gear as a child in Georgia, is quite the story. 

"One of my good friends when I was young, he was a catcher on the team and he had diabetes," Bart said. "When he got diagnosed with that in the summer time ... you know how that is. The summers in Georgia are pretty hot and humid, so his blood sugar would get low and he would have to come out of the game and sometimes he couldn't play depending on how low it would get.

"I remember one day we're at practice, I just slid the catcher's gear on because no one caught and I just had a great time with it. That's literally how it worked. I've been catching since I was 11 or 12 years old."

From clipping on a chest protector to strapping up in shin guards, Bart fell in love with the position. Though he's known for his power, Bart was named the top catching prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline this offseason. He was also named the Giants' best defensive prospect by the same outlet.

Growing up as a multi-sport athlete, Bart thrived as a running back and linebacker in high school. It's being the team's quarterback that he now relishes as the catcher. 

"It's awesome. You're in the mix obviously every single pitch. I think it's the most important position on the field," Bart said. "If I can be in that position to instruct people to where they need to be or get pitchers in line -- winning games is what it's all about. If I can get back there and try to win as many games as I can and help guys out, that's what I'm here for."

[RELATED: Giants top prospect Joey Bart reveals his nickname for Madison Bumgarner]

Giants fans are already dreaming of the first Bart Bomb on the big club. Equally as important is the first runner he throws out, the first ball in the dirt he blocks, and the first dap he gets from a pitcher for framing a called strike three.

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