Two years ago, a lot of hype swirled around Giants catching prospect Joey Bart. As Buster Posey sat out the pandemic-shortened season, Bart had a chance to grab the starting job and run with it. Instead, he went 33 games without a homer and scuffled at the plate, as his 41 strikeouts and three walks would attest.
Bart is 25 now and the opportunity is there for his taking once again. With the retirement of Posey, Bart could be the Opening Day catcher while splitting time with veteran Curt Casali this upcoming season.
Manager Gabe Kapler joined 95.7 The Game’s “The Morning Roast” Wednesday to discuss Giants baseball after Buster and more. Check out the full interview above.
“There’s no Buster Posey coming in the form of Joey Bart, or any other catcher that we have in our system,” Kapler told host Joe Shasky. "There’s no Buster Posey coming in free agency because that player doesn’t exist. He’s a unique individual who had a well-rounded game and contributed in so many different ways.”
Bart only appeared in two games for the Giants last season while filling in for sidelined players but has had a solid spring training. On Tuesday, he mashed his second Cactus League dinger, deep on to the berm in left field.
Bart’s bat is one thing, but there are still plenty of other areas he is trying to improve. Kapler said he hasn’t felt the need to tell Bart to be himself or to not emulate Posey.
“I don’t think you have to have that conversation with Joey as it relates to Buster,” Kapler said. “He really knows it. Joey has plenty to work on, so I don’t think you have to use that as motivation or create correlation in anyway. Rather, I think you talk to Joey about how he can improve his relationships with pitchers, which he has. How he can improve his game-calling and his prep, which he has. His blocking and receiving, his framing, his throwing, his leadership in the clubhouse, his own ability to manage an at-bat and look over the baseball, look for pitches he can drive, pitches he can lay off and can’t hit. There’s so much for him to work on, that I don’t think it’s necessary to bring in the, ‘Oh yeah, and by the way, be yourself.’”
It sounds like Kapler is being realistic about what to expect from Bart and Casali behind the plate this season.
“It’s just not gonna be as good as it was,” Kapler said. “Joey’s exceptionally talented. Curt is a winner and an exceptional major league catcher. But Buster Posey is irreplaceable and we know that.”
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