Joey Bart offering invaluable offensive presence within Pirates' lineup

Roughly six weeks into the season, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart has proven to be among the team’s hardest players to remove from the lineup any given night.

For a club that continues to rank toward the bottom of MLB in most major offensive statistical categories, the bat Bart has been swinging has been invaluable.

Bart’s offense helped propel the Pirates to a series win — their first since April 22-24 — on Sunday at PNC Park, as he produced a walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth to lift his team over the visiting Atlanta Braves, 4-3.

ANOTHER JOEY BART WALK OFF

PIRATES WIN THE SERIES AGAINST THE BRAVES

RAISE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Bj6vfQqt1N

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) May 11, 2025

“Oh man, unbelievable,” manager Don Kelly said of Bart’s game-winning grounder to shortstop, which saved the Pirates after they coughed up a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning.

Bart, who was 2 for 5 in the victory, also drove in a run in the fifth, collecting an RBI single.

The night prior, Bart went 4 for 4 vs. the Braves, marking a new career-high in hits through 273 career MLB games.

Among the Pirates’ regular players, Bart leads the club in batting average (.291) and on-base percentage (.411) and ranks second in walks (18) and OPS (.790) behind only Oneil Cruz.

Bart’s 30 hits rank fourth, and he has produced four doubles (tied-third) and 10 RBIs (fifth).

For Bart, who homered 13 times in 80 games last season in Year 1 with the Pirates, home runs haven’t been coming as frequently in 2025, as he has just one in 32 games.

But Bart has reason to be pleased with the offensive campaign he has put together.

“I think I’m just trying to stay consistent every day with what I’m doing before I go out there, trying to put my best at-bats together,” Bart said. “I don’t really get caught up in numbers, hits, outs. I just try to stay consistent with my preparation. If I can do that, that’s my best chance to succeed in a game.

“As a hitter, if you’re thinking about too many external things — if you’re thinking about outcomes — it’ll drive you insane. For me, it’s just trying to figure out every day how I can get my body, swing, my approach and everything in the best spot to go compete that day.”

Bart’s offensive production has been undoubtedly worthy of praise, but, defensively, there have been struggles at times.

On Saturday vs. Atlanta, Bart committed his first error of the season, as he one-hopped a throw that Matt Gorski was unable to scoop at first base after a strikeout of Ozzie Albies in the eighth inning.

On May 3, Bart let a David Bednar offspeed pitch in the dirt get away from him, allowing San Diego’s Fernando Tatis to hustle home from third base and score the winning run in the ninth inning.

FERNANDO TATIS JR. JUST DID THAT ???? pic.twitter.com/0FFJWRtquG

— MLB (@MLB) May 3, 2025

And on April 30, a pitch from Ryan Borucki bounced in and out of Bart’s glove, allowing a run to score in an eventual 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

In both instances, the pitcher was charged with a wild pitch.

But Bart’s three passed balls are tied for second most in baseball.

Per Fielding Bible, Bart has saved minus-2 runs on the year in 237 1/3 innings behind the plate.

Granted, Bart has made a positive defensive impact at times by throwing out four runners this season, most recently Sunday, when he gunned down Atlanta’s Nick Allen in the eighth inning.

Don't run on Joey Bart. pic.twitter.com/XT5cXc9e3C

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) May 11, 2025

To the Pirates, whatever defensive warts Bart might have are tolerable, especially taking into consideration the offense he is helping facilitate.

“When you look at Joey from last year to this year defensively, he’s been doing so much better,” Kelly said. “Yes, there may be games (he does) struggle here and there, but as we talked about yesterday when somebody asked about Bryan (Reynolds) and Joey, the good thing about these guys is they’re resilient and tough.

“They don’t let it carry over from the plate to the field. Look at Joey throwing out Allen there. What a throw he had. That was a big out for us in that moment.”

Last year, after the Pirates acquired him in April via trade from the San Francisco Giants, Bart shined with his new club, slashing .265/.337/.462 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs over 80 games.

That offered evidence that Bart, the second overall pick by the Giants in the 2018 MLB Draft, was taking steps toward living up to his potential.

The same could be said — so far — this year, as Bart has emerged as the Pirates’ everyday catcher, with former No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis assuming backup duties.

As his second season with the Pirates continues, Bart is enjoying the ride.

“I enjoy these guys, the club and the city a lot,” Bart said. “I think just putting an emphasis on competing and trying to win is the main focus. Just put your foot down, try to compete every day and win and be the best person you can be, in and out of the clubhouse and to the city, everybody. Just really get out here, enjoy it and take every day like it’s your last. That’s the way I approach every day.

“… I’m just excited to get out here with these guys, put the pieces of the puzzle together and try to be a little more consistent. That’s really what drives me. But I love Pittsburgh. It’s been great.”