Trending
From Mirror reports
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Joey Bart from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Austin Strickland.
Bart was the second overall selection by San Francisco in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgia Tech, where he was named the 2018 Johnny Bench Award winner as the NCAA's top catcher.
Bart also was tabbed the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all ACC selection after he led conference in hitting with a .359 batting average.
To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Colin Selby has been designated for assignment.
The 27-year-old backstop made the Giants' Opening Day roster in 2023 and hit .207 (18-for-87) with five doubles and five RBI in 30 games.
He spent the majority of last season with Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit .248 (51-for-206) with 33 runs, 12 doubles, six home runs, 28 RBI and a .750 OPS in 60 games.
Bart has appeared in 162 career games over parts of four Major League seasons with the Giants, batting .219 (100-for-457) with 16 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 38 RBI.
In another move, the Pirates acquired minor league infielder Kervin Pichardo from the San Diego Padres organization in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jackson Wolf, who was designated for assignment on March 28.
The 22-year-old Pichardo hit a combined .257 (67-for-261) with eight doubles, 10 home runs, 43 RBI, .370 OBP, .402 slugging percentage and .772 OPS in 85 games last season between High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio.
Pichardo, who was originally signed by Philadelphia as a non-drafted free agent in 2019, has hit .226 (159-for-702) with 31 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs and 102 RBI in 239 games in his minor league career.
Pichardo has been assigned to Double-A Altoona. Pittsburgh's 40-man roster remains full.
With today's moves, Pittsburgh's 40-man roster remains full.