© Orlando Ramirez | 2019 Mar 11
The dream of a Joey Bart sighting on Opening Day is officially over.
The Giants’ top prospect was featured in the latest round of cuts to the spring training roster Tuesday, the catcher reassigned to minor league camp along with infielder Cristhian Adames. Additionally, Right-handed pitcher Enderson Franco and outfielder Joe McCarthy were optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
Bart, 23, was never expected to make the Opening Day roster at the outset of camp, but played so well (.438/.526/.875, 16 ABs, 2 HRs) that his major league debut this month couldn’t be ruled out. That possibility seemed far less likely in recent days, however, with manager Gabe Kapler mentioning on multiple occasions that Bart needed more minor league experience before a call-up.
“Joey’s done a really good job in camp so far. It’s also important to remember he’s got 100 plate appearances or so above A-ball,” Kapler said of Bart on March 1. “Very little Double-A, Triple-A experience. Players in general, not just Joey Bart, tend to benefit from experience at the upper levels.”
There’s also the fact that Bart likely wouldn’t be getting a ton of reps at catcher to start the season with Buster Posey having a strong spring showing.
Bart talked on Monday about the value of catching high-level pitchers in camp.
“The competition, seeing higher-level arms, that’s valuable experience,” Bart said Sunday before the Giants played the Mariners at Scottsdale Stadium. “Just working with really good pitchers — I feel like that makes you better, makes you have to step your game up a little bit.”