Pirates Shake Up Their Catcher Position
The Pittsburgh Pirates made significant adjustments to their catcher roster on Sunday, activating Joey Bart from the injured list and optioning Jason Delay to Triple-A Indianapolis. Bart, who went on the 10-day IL on May 28 due to a thumb injury, ended up missing a month. Delay was optioned after receiving limited playing time at the major league level.
Pirates Activate Joey Bart from IL
Bart was one of Pittsburgh’s offseason acquisitions, arriving in a trade with the San Francisco Giants. Initially, the move seemed questionable with up-and-coming catcher Henry Davis already on the roster. However, nearly every Pirates catcher, including Bart and Davis, has dealt with injuries this season. Therefore, for this year’s team, having an abundance of catchers has proven beneficial. With Davis currently in the midst of a rehab assignment, Bart’s presence on the roster will be valuable once again.
In 23 games this season, the 27-year-old backstop is slashing .250/.342/.484 with four homers, 12 RBI, and three doubles. Even with limited playing time, his OPS of .826 is impressive and would be a career-high if he can maintain that level for the rest of the year.
Jason Delay Optioned to Triple-A
Delay has had even fewer opportunities behind the plate than Bart this year. After accumulating over 100 at-bats with Pittsburgh in each of the last two seasons, the 29-year-old has only appeared in seven games this year. In 15 at-bats, he has three hits (all doubles) and six RBI. While offense is not his forte, doubles seem to be a specialty for Delay, as he also recorded 11 last season in limited action.
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Delay will now join Davis at Triple-A Indianapolis, suggesting that Bart will handle most of the catching duties for Pittsburgh in the short term. A platoon with Yasmani Grandal remains possible, though Grandal’s .179 average doesn’t inspire much confidence.
The Pirates’ adjustments in their catcher position reflect a strategic move to stabilize their roster amidst ongoing injury challenges, aiming to strengthen their lineup for the remainder of the season.
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