Bart seeks out Posey on AT&T Park tour
Joey Bart generally tried to stay out of the Giants’ way as they prepared for Monday night’s game against the Marlins, but the No. 2 overall pick made a point to seek out Buster Posey.
Bart, who will probably replace the All-Star catcher one day, chatted up Posey as part of a whirlwind tour of AT&T Park a day after signing the richest signing bonus ever for a drafted position player ($7.025 million).
Accompanied by his parents and two older brothers, Bart talked with Posey about his plans to work out at the Giants’ spring training facility until he’s deemed ready to report to the franchise’s higher-level rookie team in Keizer, Ore.
“I like to say: ‘I’m a winner,’ and one of the things this team does is that they want to win now,” Bart said. “I respect that a lot, going out and getting (Evan) Longoria and (Andrew) McCutchen to try to make a run. …
“You can’t really choose who drafts you, but if I had to do it,
this is the way I would have done it. I’m extremely lucky.”
Bart is no stranger to having to bide his time behind stars. When he was 14, he was cut from a Georgia travel team because the squad was loaded at catcher with Tyler Stephenson (a first-round pick in 2015) and Lucas Herbert (a secondround pick that year).
That ended up being a lifechanging summer for Bart, who played for former big-league catcher Michael Barrett ona different squad.
“He poured a lot of knowledge into my mind. He really turned it around for me,” Bart said. “… After that, I really found a love for baseball, and it’s what I want to do full time.”
The 2018 ACC Player of the Year and batting champion (.359) was the Giants’ highest draft selection since they
picked Will Clark (also No. 2 overall) in 1985. Bart’s selection also represented the first time the Giants picked a catcher with their top choice since they nabbed Posey at No. 5 in 2008.
“Now that I’m here, it’s kind of setting in,” Bart said before being asked when he expects to be back on a full-time basis. “I have no idea, but I’d hope to say: ‘Soon.’
“I’d love to be out here as soon as possible, but I trust that the staff will put me in the best position.”
Briefly: Starter Johnny Cueto (right elbow inflammation) threw a 40-pitch simulated game and said it went well. Manager Bruce Bochy said the real test will be how the elbow responds Tuesday, when the team is expected to decide whether Cueto needs to throw another simulated game before starting a rehab assignment. … Starter Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder tightness) is scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday. … Giants athletic trainer Dave Groeschner plans to fly to Arizona to be with third baseman Longoria, who will have surgery Tuesday on his broken left pinkie. … Kelby Tomlinson was recalled from Triple-A and started at shortstop for Brandon Crawford, who was placed on the paternity list. Crawford is expected to return to the Giants after the three-game series against the Marlins. Crawford’s wife, Jalynne, gave birth Monday to the couple’s fourth child, a boy named Bryson Ryder.