The Pittsburgh Pirates activated Joey Bart off the injured list on Friday, while designating Billy McKinney for assignment.
Bart has been one of the best stories for the Pirates this season. Added at the start of the year in a minor trade, he’s gone on to break out in the Majors as the best hitting catcher in the league. The former second overall pick is batting .272/.347/.497 with 12 homers in 219 plate appearances.
He had locked down the starting catching job, and was spending time splitting between catcher and DH, while batting in the middle of the order, before getting injured. Bart went out on August 25th, but didn’t need much time on the injured list, and didn’t need a rehab assignment.
McKinney spent a few weeks on the Pirates’ roster, hitting .200/.286/.240 with one double. The Pirates sending him down means they’ll be carrying three catchers. Henry Davis is still with the team, and could split time with Bart at the DH spot when someone else is behind the plate. The Pirates still have Yasmani Grandal, who has been the personal catcher for Paul Skenes. The final month with three catchers should give the Pirates an idea of their roster in 2025 when Endy Rodriguez returns.
Minor Moves
- Catcher Justin Miknis was promoted from Bradenton to Greensboro. The move follows Geovanny Planchart being promoted from Greensboro to Altoona, taking the spot of Carter Bins, who went on the injured list.
- RHP Gilberto Alcala was released from the FCL Pirates roster. Alcala was signed in 2019, and made his debut in the DSL in 2022. He pitched in the FCL in 2023, but missed all of this season with an injury. The right-hander would have been set to return in 2025 for his age 22 season.
