Joey Bart, a catcher at Georgia Tech, increased his MLB Draft stock this spring. He went from a potential first-round selection earlier this year to hearing his name called by the San Francisco Giants with the second overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft on Monday.
The signing bonus value for the No. 2 overall pick is $7,494,600.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound catcher hit .359 with 16 home runs and 38 RBIs in 57 games as a junior this spring.
It was drastic improvement after recording mixed results in his first two seasons at the plate. He posted a .299 batting average with one home run and 31 RBIs in 157 at-bats as a freshman in 2016.
He showed progress offensively as a sophomore in 2017, despite missing the last 11 games due to a hand injury. He hit .296 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs in 186 at-bats.
Scouts questioned if Bart could stick at catcher when he started his career at Georgia Tech. But he’s improved his receiving skills and has enough athleticism to play the position long-term.
His best defensive trait is his above-average arm. He’s thrown out 40 percent of base stealers in his two seasons at Georgia Tech.
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