Giants promoting top prospect Bart to Majors

There's no "might" about it. Joey Bart will be a Giant.

San Francisco is calling MLB.com's No. 15 overall prospect up to the Majors for his debut, the club announced Thursday. The Giants did not initially reveal the corresponding moves necessary to add Bart to the 28-man active and 40-man rosters prior to today's matchup with the Angels.

OFFICIAL: It's happening. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/es0Rt7nigG

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 20, 2020

Bart's arrival by the Bay is one of the most exciting developments for the Giants this season. The club sits at the bottom of the National League West standings with a 10-16 record and has been without franchise backstop Buster Posey after the six-time All-Star opted out of the season for family reasons. San Francisco has been relying on Tyler Heineman and Chadwick Tromp behind the plate in Posey's absence, but with neither posting an OPS over .600, it was time to make way for the potential future star.

Bart was selected with the second overall pick in the 2018 Draft out of Georgia Tech, tying him with Will Clark (1985) for the highest Draft selection in San Francisco franchise history. A broken left hand limited him to 79 games during his first full season in 2019, but the right-handed slugger showed plenty of promise. He finished with a .278/.328/.495 line and 16 homers in 79 games between Class A Advanced San Jose and Double-A Richmond. In the 2019 Arizona Fall League, Bart homered four times in 10 games before another broken bone suffered on a hit-by-pitch (this time his right thumb) cut that season short as well.

The 23-year-old catcher's promising power is his standout skill on offense, though he has a potentially average hit tool as well. He is also highly regarded for his defensive work, with a glove and arm that both have plus potential. That well-rounded skill set makes him MLB.com's second-ranked catching prospect behind 2019 No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman of the Orioles.

The Giants gave Bart playing time at first base during his time at their alternate training site in Sacramento, so he could see action at that position as well. The former Yellow Jacket has yet to play the cold corner in an official professional game.