Joey Bart Makes Pittsburgh Roots Proud in Pirates’ Debut (+)
PITTSBURGH Pa. — Joey Bart may not be from Pittsburgh, but he certainly has the city in his blood.
Bart’s father, Tommy, grew up in Lower Burrell, Pa., some 30 minutes from downtown. The elder Bart was a standout athlete in high school and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979 but did not sign.
Fast forward 45 years, and Tommy’s son was traded to the Pirates by the San Francisco Giants. Bart, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft, would get a fresh start with a new organization after he was designated for assignment by the Giants.
Bart started at catcher in his first game with the Pirates in Saturday’s extra-innings win over the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park. He passed his first impression with flying colors.
In his first at-bat of the game, Bart belted a two-run home run over the left-field fence, much to the delight of the Pirates’ faithful, which included some of Bart’s family friends.
“It was fun. I just kinda blacked out and just let things take care of themselves,” he said. “It took all of us today and it was a long one. Definitely a grinder all the way through it, but you know, Cruz stepped up, everyone stepped up when we needed it and things in this game work the way they work. They have a mind of their own, and we were the good guys today.”
Bart would follow up his home run with a missile-double in his second at-bat of the game giving him two impressive hits to start his tenure in Pittsburgh.
Bart was also tasked with being battery mater of starter Bailey Falter, who turned in his best performance since joining the Pirates at last year’s trade deadline.
It was a tall ask for Bart, who joined the Pirates earlier in the week and only got to prepare in about a 48-hour span.
Based off of how Falter fared in his outing, it looked like the two had been working together for years.
“It was awesome,” said Falter on working with a new battery mate. “He caught me in my last bullpen. So, he was somewhat familiar with me. But I mean, he knew me to a tee and we were on the same page the whole entire game. So obviously that helped that a lot.”
Since joining the Pirates, it’s been a whirlwind. Bart was in Atlanta when he got wind of the trade. He quickly jumped on a plane and joined the Pirates. A few days after joining a brand-new clubhouse, he would play in his first game.
“It’s just go, go, go, and the season is always like that,” said Bart. “The first couple of days, it’s just, you were in one place for so long, it seems different, but it’s exciting. I’m really enjoying it. I’m enjoying Pittsburgh in the few days that I’ve been here. It’s been cool. I haven’t seen weather like this before. It just feels a little bit closer to home. It’s been a blast and I’m excited to keep it going for the next couple of days here and for the first road trip.”
Maybe joining a new team in a city where he has connections will do well by the former top prospect as he looks to cement himself as a major-leaguer for the first time.
No matter what happens in the short-term and the long-haul, Bart’s first showing in his dad’s hometown will be one to remember for those family roots that sprouted in Pittsburgh.
“Outstanding debut,” said manager Derek Shelton. “Hit the homer. Just missed another homer. Had a big block there in the 11th. That doesn’t go unnoticed. Overall, I thought he did a good job. Catching up really fast, as we talked about in the pregame, and I think he did an outstanding job.”
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