The Giants are placing catcher Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list and recalling Sean Hjelle from Triple-A, according to MLB.com’s Maria Guardado. Bart was previously reported to be dealing with back tightness and has been diagnosed with a mild back strain. Susan Sussler of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that Bart is expected to miss minimal time.
Though he excelled in the lower levels of the minor leagues after being picked second overall in the 2018, advancing from rookie ball all the way to Double-A in just 130 games, Bart has struggled at the major league level since his debut during the shortened 2020 season, posting a .222/.294/.351 slash line in 408 plate appearances in the the big leagues while striking out 38% of the time. While Bart figures to get another opportunity to establish himself as the long-term catcher for the Giants this season, that will now have to be put on hold while he nurses his injury.
With Bart sidelined for the time being, the Giants are down to two catchers on their active roster, with Roberto Perez being backed up by Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol. Sabol had been playing in the outfielder while the Giants were rostering three catchers with Austin Slater and Mitch Haniger on the injured list, but now figures to see more time behind the plate as San Francisco looks to figure out if he can stick on the roster long-term. That should open up playing time for the likes of JD Davis, Matt Beaty, and Bryce Johnson.
That opens the door for Hjelle to join the big league roster. Hjelle, 25, is routinely considered to be among San Francisco’s top 10 prospects. He made his major league debut last season, and though he struggled in terms of results with a 5.76 ERA in 25 innings of work, that figure is inflated by a .400 BABIP. Hjelle’s 24.3% strikeout rate, 7.0% walk rate, and 3.51 FIP all indicate his performance was much stronger than the top level results would otherwise imply. With the Giants flush in rotation options, Hjelle is likely ticketed for the bullpen, though he could be used in a multi-inning role as he was last season, when seven of his eight appearances saw him face 12+ batters.
Surprising that there’s no mention of Gary Sanchez in this article,
Theyre already had 3 catchers, now they still have 2
Gary Sanchez is a dreadful defensive catcher. IMO, Giants should start Perez for his defense and game calling while using Sabol as a backup to give him more time to develop.
What’s there to say? He just joined and has a May 1 out. Also, HE SUCKS
Give Zaidi time to work out a trade for Bart and then replace him with Sanchez before May 1st
Maybe he can pull off a minor trade for Casali, who Zaidi should have brought back as a placeholder this offseason.
Casali played good for SF… sad to see him in another Uni
Played well.
Challenging task…. Trade a guy that strikes out 40 percent of the time and is currently on the IL….
Work out a trade for Joey Bart? Sure, for a bucket of balls and a player to be named later.
Was also wondering about Sanchez.You think they’re waiting for him to ramp up?
Most likely he isn’t ready yet for an MLB game. He didn’t go through a normal MLB spring training for the first time in his career, and only signed with Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic league less than two weeks ago before signing with the Giants. At least he played a bit in the WBC but he still probably needs a few weeks to get some reps and get into (reasonable) MLB game shape.
I don’t think Bart’s back is hurt. I think he’s butt hurt.
Kidding aside, this guy doesn’t have a great attitude. I’ve watched him his whole career. I see a guy who’s frustrated and sullen. He was called up too early when Posey didn’t play in 2020 then played most of AAA in 2021. He’s also had two hand injuries.
I just don’t think he’s as good as his draft selection and pedigree says he’s supposed to be but HE THINKS he is.
A change of scenery while he still has perceived value is probably the best thing for all parties.
By his whole career do you mean his time in the minors as well or is it limited to his time in the majors?
Bart has consistently played straight faced in the minors where I saw him play (S-K, San Jose) without much outward emotion. I can see why someone could say he appears sullen and frustrated, but that may be reading what we want to read into it to support our own biases. Same goes for what we think he thinks of himself.
That said, if Bart was traded and turned it around I would be thrilled for him. I would be less thrilled if he was traded for Andrew McCutchen.
I can’t find a thing about Bart’s attitude. I did find an article giving him credit for a good attitude. To me, your post about Bart is observations you made from what you have seen. Is that correct?
Bay Area Rapid Transit is down for 10 days.
Lot of lives will be saved.
At least Bart can say he hasn’t struck out in 2023. Unfortunately his time as a Giant is running out. Zaidi & Kapler can’t wait to bring up Sanchez (which won’t make a difference).
Zaidi & Kapler have no room to complain about Bart’s strikeout rate (2022 38%). Giants 41 K in 3 games (16 13 12) & only got 19 hits (4 12 3) & only scored 7 runs (0 7 0). Over twice as many K to hits. And Kapler doesn’t have mandatory batting practice.
Red;
Any idea what the Giant’s record is for strike outs in an opening three game series?? They are certainly free swingers. Unfortunately, Stripling’s last spring training warm up in giving up the long ball continued into his first start.
So batting practice is not mandatory. How many didn’t show ?
Farhan and Kapler are sabotaging Bart and this team.
Just watched this team play three at the stadium.
I understood going into the series they weren’t a very good team. But man, after watching the Giants play…..they’re awful.
Zaidi spent close to 200 Million here and it’s basically a Huge pile of Asss
Farhan and Kapler are sabotaging Bart and this team.
If I were Bart I’d probably consider requesting a trade by now.
Bart for Adell. Wanna be prospects to a change of scenery.
Bart = Bust,
K’s are too much to overcome for him. At best I can see him as a .215 hitter that can hit 25HRs and 200k+
Farm still looks dismal they do not have any C’s to bring up and lack almost everywhere else on the field too
I do like what Sabol has but I think he too is being brought up to quickly to MLB but Giants need to keep him up as he is better than what they got on the upside scale.
Sabol is crap behind the dish. Bart has the potential to be a star.
I think Zaidi and Kapler don’t like Bart, because of his draft pedigree from the previous regime. Trying to clear the way for their own 1st round draft pick C, Bailey. I’ve been kinda feeling that, since last year, when Kapler refused to bat him above 8th or 9th and gave him days off, seemingly at perfect times to break any rhythm he began to get into.
Dave M Law. I still think Bart needs a real opportunity. As you mentioned, he was called up too early, then he’s asked to be the next Posey. Then last year he struggled (like 95% of MLB players) in his first real stint at the majors, but when he came back up later on he seemed to be improved. Throw him in as your starter right now. He’ll probably hit .210 but he’ll also hit 20+ hr, which I’d take right now considering our current line up is atrocious. Let’s at least give him a shot without him having SF signing a new catcher every week. If it doesn’t pan out, at least you know what he is. We already know what Perez is & Sabol at best will be an average player (there’s a reason he wasn’t protected). But Joey does have the potential to be an above average to really good player, but ya gotta play him! This current Zaidi/Kapler regime has gotta go. Their off season moves contradict everything the front office claimed they were going to do & Kapler tries too hard to be suave & articulate & it doesn’t seem as if the players play hard for him. Unlike a Bryce Bochy, whose players would run through freight trains for him. Watch Texas play right now-they play really hard & care about each other (like the 2010-2014 Giants did), where Kaplers Giants at times just go through the motions. Even though Bart has impossible shoes to fill, he has done everything asked, then 2 weeks before spring tr. they say the cathing position is wide open & bring in a hundred guys to compete. Bochy would never do that & if I was Bart, I would be upset too. Ziadi/Kapler got too much praise for the 2021 season. That was because of Buster, Longo, Belt, Craw, Webb, & Gausman. Only 2 of them remain & Zaidi & Kap did Crawford dirty with the C.C. fiasco, another thing Bochy would never let happen. Is anyone surprised the Rangers play hard & over achieve, meanwhile, Kaplers Giants seem like they don’t have a pulse at times.
“Jelly” pitched well today…only 3 wild pitches and three walks!
Each to their own, but I’m not sure conspiracy theories are required when a player has had 370 major league at bats and struck out in 155 of them.
You mean like the conspiracy theory that trading a player is “disrespectful?” 😉
How many folks thought Matt Williams was a bust after his first couple of seasons?
Could not hit the curveball and the league found out quickly.
facts, but he also figured it out and had a hell of a career. Not sure what’s the story with Bart cause I’m not in the manager’s office, but as a casual fan, and given the other options at catcher, I say let him figure it out. Give him a full year and if he can’t do it, then you can cut bait.
I agree.
Maybe he should start licking his shoulder like Matty did…
Morons should have placed Bart on the DL to start the season.
Poor job performance by trainers, manager, and Bart himself.
It is a TEAM sport.
The TEAM is more important than the ego of a single player.