The San Francisco Giants have designated catcher Joey Bart for assignment, clearing the way for right-handed pitcher Daulton Jefferies on their roster. Bart, a former top prospect, was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft but has struggled to live up to expectations. In 162 games, Bart has a .219/.288/.335 slash line and is now facing either a trade or being waived since he has no minor-league options left.
Bart’s struggles with strikeouts have been a major concern throughout his career, with his defense also coming below average. Despite this, the Giants had been carrying three catchers on their roster, including promising prospect Patrick Bailey. If given the chance to redo the 2018 draft, the Giants might have selected Shane McClanahan or Logan Gilbert instead of Bart.
Jefferies is a former first-round pick who has made 14 appearances in the majors with a 5.75 ERA and has shown promise in spring training. He is set to start for the Giants against the San Diego Padres on Sunday as they look to turn things around after a tough season so far.
Overall, it seems like Bart’s time with the Giants may be coming to an end as he struggles to meet expectations and Jefferies shows promise in his brief stint with the team so far.
