Joey Bart
#14 C · Pirates
Height
6'2"
Weight
242 lbs
Age
29
College
Georgia Tech
Draft
2018, Rd 1, #2
Experience
6 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
D
D
D
—
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsD
| Year | Team | GP | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS | SB | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 347 | 0.23661149 | 29 | 116 | 0.6835477 | 3 | 243 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$2.5M
Guaranteed
$1.5M
AAV
$2.5M/yr
Guaranteed %60%
Performance Analysis
D
FCA+
Joey Bart grades as a solid performer among MLB catchers, earning a B- Performance grade. He is hitting with a 0.239 batting average and a 0.689 OPS (below the league average of .720) this season. With 28 home runs and 113 RBI through 335 games (a 14-HR, 55-RBI pace over a full season), he brings limited power to the lineup. As a prime-age veteran at 29, Joey is a key contributor for the Pirates. A 335-game sample provides high confidence in this grade.
Fan & Media Sentiment
D
Negative
NegativeNeutralPositive
Joey Bart's media narrative heading into 2026 reflects a concerning mix of cautious optimism and fundamental uncertainty about his future role. Despite acknowledged bounce-back potential, spring struggles have amplified legitimate questions about whether the Pirates view him as their long-term solution behind the plate, with trade discussions involving the Astros suggesting organizational ambivalence. Media coverage frames Bart as underrated rather than elite talent, setting modest expectations that reflect his inconsistent track record rather than franchise-cornerstone potential. The wide-open catcher competition creates additional uncertainty that has tempered fan confidence, with performance questions dominating the narrative despite his off-field likability. This D-grade sentiment reflects a player caught between developmental hope and organizational doubt, where even optimistic coverage carries significant hedging about his ultimate ceiling. The Pirates' apparent willingness to explore trade options signals that Bart hasn't solidified his standing, leaving both media and fans in a cautious wait-and-see mode regarding his 2026 prospects.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 5/9 | @ SF | L 2-5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Thu, 5/7 | @ ARI | W 4-2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Transaction History
News & Buzz
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About this player
Joey Bart is a player in his 6th MLB season listed at C for the Pirates. FanVerdicts maintains four independent grades for every MLB player on an active roster — Contract Value Index for the deal itself, Performance for on-field production, Sentiment for media and fan reaction, and Fan Verdict for community voting. Current grades for Joey Bart: Contract Value Index D, Performance D, Sentiment D, Fan Verdict pending.
Every grade refreshes on its own cadence as new data lands. Performance recalculates when MLB game stats post; Sentiment updates with new media coverage and fan discussion; Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change; Fan Verdict reflects live community voting on this profile. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) the Contract Value Index grade is computed against.
For league-wide context, the MLB hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The MLB player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.