SF Giants option Joey Bart to Triple-A Sacramento, trade for catcher

SAN FRANCISCO — Joey Bart was the Giants’ Opening Day catcher, homering in his to start with formal at-bat of the time on a sunshine-splashed early April working day at Oracle Park.

Now, two months afterwards, Bart’s back in the minimal leagues, looking to correct the flaws in his swing that noticed his batting normal and OPS drop to .156 and .596, respectively, subsequent an -for-3 efficiency Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies.

The struggling rookie catcher was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento next the game, a Giants’ 5-3 reduction.

“Obviously, we even now imagine in Joey and consider he can be a frontline Major League catcher for us,” Giants supervisor Gabe Kapler claimed Wednesday. “The number one particular information is that he has some adjustments that he wants to make.”

Moreover optioning Bart, the Giants also acquired catcher Austin Wynns from the Philadelphia Phillies for minimal league pitcher Michael Plassmeyer.

Wynns, 31, arrived in San Francisco early Wednesday morning from Omaha, Neb. He was there with Lehigh Valley, but he’ll be in the Giants’ lineup Thursday, catching Logan Webb, when they encounter Colorado in the sequence finale.

“Shocked. Stunned but content all at at the time,” Wynns, a San Diego indigenous, claimed about the trade. “It was a whirlwind of events. I just wished to phone my household, my cherished ones, just to permit them know.”

The Giants have been optimistic Bart, the No. 2 in general draft decide in 2018, was prepared to seize a starting job this period after Buster Posey announced his retirement in November. But the Georgia Tech merchandise has experienced via a tough two months offensively.

In his final 25 at-bats, Bart, 25, has just two hits and has struck out 15 times.

Kapler said the mechanical problems that Bart demands to clear up with his swing include retaining his hips and shoulders more even, and simplifying what he does with his front leg prior to attempted get hold of.

“We’re not ready to forecast how lengthy changes like this choose,” Kapler said. “They can strike really immediately and you can sense it correct absent and put into practice it right away, or it can take a lengthier period of time of time.

“We’re likely to do our best to preserve on the lookout for techniques and trying things, both of those mechanical and on the tactic and arranging side, to help him be the catcher and big leaguer that we all know we can be.”

Bart has explained this period he’s been concentrating additional on his defensive video game, assured that his struggles at the plate would operate on their own out. Just final week, Bart drew praise from Kapler for suggesting to the supervisor and reliever José Álvarez that they intentionally walk former MVP Bryce Harper in a late-activity state of affairs.

“You’ve received to be locked in all the time powering the plate. It is where games are received, so I’m going to put all my effort and all my concentrate in there,” Bart stated right after that recreation. “I’m self-confident in what I have been executing powering the plate, drawing self confidence just about every working day off of that. Once I can place the offensive side of the ball together, I’ll be all proper.”

Kapler expanded on the mental concerns gamers endure when they struggle to complete at a higher degree.

“It doesn’t issue how tough you are. If you are you’re battling to endure each solitary day, day in and day out, and you are striving to create oneself as a main league player, it is likely to acquire its toll,” Kapler mentioned. “It’s not to say that he’s not mentally difficult enough to handle it. He is. But a great deal of significant leaguers wrestle to obtain their stride quickly.

“It requires some time and we’re heading to cling in there and be client with Joey.”

The Giants are betting that a trip to Sacramento will assist him get that sorted out although they function to elevate outside of the middling baseball (15-17) they’ve played because the beginning of Could

Wynns, a previous Orioles prospect, is a job .216 hitter in 310 main league at-bats, but was off to a large get started at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies corporation this year. Just after signing a minor league deal with Philadelphia in March, Wynns reported to Triple-A and is batting .365 with a .504 on-base percentage and a 1.004 OPS.

Wynns’ offensive profile provides a stark distinction to Bart, who struck out in 49 of his 90 at-bats with the Giants just before staying demoted. At Triple-A this yr, Wynns has walked 28 situations although striking out just 18 times, displaying extraordinary plate discipline that’s reflected in his on-base proportion.