Joey Bart Proving Pirates Right in May

Bart's batting average was as poor as .105 in the middle of the month, but now has seemingly found his form offensively.

Former Pirates catcher and SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcaster Michael McKenry noticed changes that Bart has made with his swing, which is generating better at-bats and more power too.

The Pirates need better offensive production from their catchers, as Davis has also had his struggles, who is slashing .156/.253/.273 for an OPS of .526 in 29 games.

Bart isn't the defensive catcher Davis is, but if he can keep up this kind of play, then it's a big step for him moving forward and can also earn him more playing time, particularly if Davis continues his poor hitting.

Bart's Great Hitting in May

Most of Bart's production this month comes from two games they've won on this road trip that he's started, which includes the 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the series finale at Chase Field on May 7 and then in the 13-3 victory against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 9.

He had two hits vs. the Diamondbacks and also a solo home run, his second of the season, to make it 4-2 and get the win for the Pirates.

Bart then had the best game of his season so far, with four hits in five at-bats vs. the Giants, scoring two runs and driving in two runs too.

He beat out a throw at first base for an infield single in the top of the fifth inning, changed after a Pirates challenge, and then later scored on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Lowe to make it 1-0.

Bart then hit another single in the top of the sixth inning, this time scoring shortstop Konnor Griffin to extend the Pirates' lead to 4-1.

He would hit another RBI-single in the top of the seventh inning, scoring first baseman Spencer Horwitz to make it 7-1 and later scored off an RBI-triple from Lowe to increase the Pirates' advantage to 9-1.

Bart got his fourth and final hit off of Giants position player Christian Koss, which he later scored on a double from Lowe.

It marked just his third-career four-hit game, both coming at PNC Park in 2025, against the Atlanta Braves on May 10 and vs. the Athletics on Sept. 21.