The SF Giants placed Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list with a mild back strain prior to the team's game against the Yankees on Sunday. In a corresponding roster move, they recalled right-handed pitcher Sean Hjelle ( Giants #28 prospect) from Triple-A Sacramento. Bart was expected to make his season debut on Saturday but was scratched from the lineup with back tightness.
The timing of Bart's absence is particularly untimely for the former second-overall pick. Bart has faced mounting pressure to live up to the lofty expectations that come with being a high draft pick and top prospect.
Earlier this week, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi publicly said the team needs more from Bart this season. Then, the Giants signed two-time All-Star catcher Gary Sánchez to a minor-league deal. The Sánchez signing fueled speculation that San Francisco plans to move on from Bart at some point this season. Now with Bart on the injured list, Sánchez's call-up to the Giants could be expedited.
Bart made his big-league debut during the pandemic-shortened season in 2020. Clearly overmatched by MLB pitching, striking out 41 times in 111 plate appearances with zero home runs and just three walks. After spending most of 2021 at Triple-A, Bart was expected to solidify the starting backstop job last season. Instead, he struggled with consistency and was even optioned to the minors.
Bart showed off his impressive power on several occasions last season, blasting 11 home runs in 297 plate appearances. However, his issues with contact continued to generate prolonged slumps. He finished the season with 112 strikeouts and a .215/.296/.364 triple-slash.
Hjelle was a standout prospect during spring training, recording a 1.59 ERA across 17 innings pitched with 22 strikeouts and 3 walks. However, the depth of starting pitching options already on the roster led the Giants to have him start the season in Triple-A. Nevertheless, Bart's injury gave them an opportunity to add Hjelle to manager Gabe Kapler's pitching staff.
For the time being, the SF Giants will now roll with Roberto Pérez and Blake Sabol (Giants #33 prospect) as the team's catchers, which is a significant bet on Sabol's defensive potential behind the plate. If Sabol is unable to hold his own, Sánchez or Austin Wynns could be added to the roster.
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