Ron Holman-Visalia
The Giants have made it clear that Joey Bart will not be on the team Opening Day. This camp is not an open competition, but rather another avenue for Bart to get more reps.
He’s turning it into a showcase, though.
The 2018 second-overall pick seems to do something else every day that makes Giants fans lift their pitchforks higher, campaigning for Bart’s time to be now rather than later. The Giants have reiterated a catcher with 22 games above A-Ball needs more development, with the service-time implications of bringing Bart up later this season unspoken.
While everyone could use more development, Bart’s bat surely looked developed in hammering a home run to deep left-center off Andrew Suarez in Friday night’s intrasquad scrimmage.
C Joey Bart crushed a home run to left center off LHP Andrew Suarez: pic.twitter.com/YOBDl3VVpM
— GPT (@giantsprospects) July 18, 2020
Bart lit up spring training 1.0 after starring (briefly) in the Arizona Fall League, in which he slashed .333/.524/.767 in 10 games before breaking his hand for a second time.
“He was really good in the Fall League and we’re trying to replicate and bottle that up as much as we can,” hitting coach Justin Viele said recently. “Get that swing to feel and look like what it was in the Fall League, and he’s really, really close to that.”
Without Buster Posey, there is not much of a debate about the most defensively talented catcher in Giants camp. Again Bart showed off his arm Friday, a snap throw from his knees nearly picking off Steven Duggar at first. Wednesday he gunned down Mike Yastrzemski at second on an outside pitch that did not leave him much room for error.
Joey Bart throws out another runner trying for 2nd base. Take note, MLB. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/vGDBLEjfnn
— Hum Buss's Second Best Buddy (@BartAndBaileyGM) July 16, 2020
The catchers ahead of Bart on the depth chart had nice days, Tyler Heineman with an RBI double off Jeff Samardzija and Rob Brantly picking up a couple singles. Chadwick Tromp quickly pounced on a Duggar bunt and got the out at first. Yet, no one is debating who the most talented option is, and few can contend that Bart does not give the Giants the best chance to win on Opening Day. Heineman and Brantly both have their strengths, but they’re unproven 29- and 31-year-olds, respectively.
Other notes from Friday’s scrimmage:
Tony Watson made his scrimmage debut, walking Austin Slater but bouncing back and striking out Jaylin Davis and Hunter Pence. Watson said there’s “still a little velo to come,” his fastball not quite looking ready, but he was happy with how he felt six days before Opening Day.
Watson did not pitch in the Cactus League with a tight shoulder, but he said he was able to rehab it during the break, which he spent in Florida.
“I feel like my pitch execution has gotten better each time out,” said Watson, an anchor in a bullpen that is low on experience. “…I’m not the best spring training pitcher out there by any means. But I try to make sure that when the bell rings I’m ready to go, and my stuff’s where I want it to be. I’m treating this like it’s a March and trying to get as ready as I can before the bell rings.”
The most impressive pitcher of the day may have been Conner Menez, who tossed three innings and allowed one hit while striking out four. He continues to make a push for an Opening Day spot.
Pence played the outfield for the first time, but he was not running all-out.
In the wake of Brandon Belt’s injury, Joe McCarthy’s lefty bat could be intriguing at first base. He was not smooth, however, dropping a ball in the dirt that would have been a double play and throwing wildly to second when the Giants had Slater picked off.
Newcomer Jose Siri, a 40-man roster member, got his first look of camp and quickly demonstrated what the Giants see in him.
The outfielder dropped a single in front of Pence, then stole second, then took third on a gutsy play. Jeff Samardzija fielded a nubber, stared down Siri, then threw to first, and Siri’s speed got him an extra base.
His arm, though, was the most eye-opening tool on display, revealing he has a canon when Slater flew out to right field, and Siri’s throw chased Marco Luciano back to second.
Speaking of Luciano, his smooth shovel to Yolmer Sanchez made for one of the prettier double plays you’ll see.
But Luciano’s age showed through when facing Wandy Peralta. The 28-year-old outguiled the 18-year-old, first pausing with his knee in the air before delivering a strike, then quick-pitching Luciano, who did not look ready and struck out.