Joey Bart Lifts Braves Past Pirates 3-0 With 2-Run Homer

Q: With Sean Murphy returning, what is Joey Bart's future role after his game-winning heroics for the Braves?

Joey Bart’s most likely role, once Sean Murphy is fully back, is as a backup catcher and right-handed bench option rather than a regular starter. Atlanta acquired Bart on June 18 to cover for Murphy’s fractured finger and to strengthen its catching depth. In Murphy’s absence, Bart has shown why the Braves valued him: he has provided steady defense, helped manage the pitching staff, and delivered timely power, including the game-winning homer against Pittsburgh. Walt Weiss has also praised Bart’s presence behind the plate, which strengthens his case to remain useful on the major league roster. Still, Murphy is the established No. 1 catcher when healthy, and Drake Baldwin also figures prominently in the Braves’ plans. The available reporting indicates Atlanta’s preferred catching mix is Murphy and Baldwin, with Baldwin also able to get at-bats at designated hitter. That leaves Bart competing for limited playing time as a third catcher or reserve. His recent performance may help him keep a roster spot, especially because clubs value catching depth and Bart offers more offensive upside than a pure defensive reserve. But if Atlanta decides it cannot carry three catchers regularly, Bart could see reduced at-bats, be optioned if roster rules allow, or emerge as a trade candidate. So his heroics likely improved his standing, but they probably do not change the broader picture: Murphy’s return pushes Bart back into a depth role.

Q: Did the Pirates' decision to pull a perfect pitcher prove their trade of Joey Bart was a huge mistake?

No. One dramatic night made the trade look bad, but it does not by itself prove Pittsburgh made a huge mistake. The optics were brutal for the Pirates. Jared Jones was perfect through six innings, then was pulled at 77 pitches because the club is managing his workload after a UCL procedure. After Jones exited, the Braves finally broke through, and Joey Bart — traded by Pittsburgh to Atlanta on June 18 — hit the decisive two-run homer in the eighth. That sequence naturally sharpened criticism of both the pitching change and the trade. But the two decisions should be judged separately. Pulling Jones was tied to his health plan, not game feel alone. Pittsburgh has been cautious with him, and protecting a young starter coming off an elbow issue is a defensible long-term baseball decision even if it backfired that night. The Bart trade also had a roster logic. The Pirates chose to commit to Henry Davis and Endy Rodríguez, believed Davis was their best defensive catcher, and saw Rodríguez producing well after Bart’s injury. Bart was also out of options and had a modest .259/.290/.379 line before the trade. In return, Pittsburgh got reliever Hunter Stratton and some flexibility. What Wednesday did show is that Atlanta identified a real need and filled it well. With Sean Murphy hurt, Bart has given the Braves useful defense and timely offense. So the game was a painful reminder of Bart’s value, but not definitive proof the Pirates made a huge mistake.

3 articles · Updated · MLB.com · Jul 9

Joey Bart broke a scoreless game in the eighth, drilling a two-out, two-run homer off Dennis Santana to seal Atlanta’s 3-0 win over his former team in Pittsburgh.
Jared Jones had retired all 18 Braves he faced with eight strikeouts through six innings, but Pittsburgh pulled him after a season-high workload as it manages his return from UCL surgery.
Grant Holmes and Bart also helped carry Atlanta on the other side, combining on five scoreless innings before the Braves secured only their eighth win in 25 games.
Bart, traded from Pittsburgh to Atlanta on June 18 after the Pirates kept Henry Davis and Endy Rodríguez, is in just his second game against his old club and has 2 homers with the Braves.