Joey Bart's Pirates breakout (reminiscent of Ryan Doumit) provides blueprint for Henry Davis

Joey Bart was one of the Pirates’ biggest surprises of the 2024 season. Once considered a top prospect and heir apparent to Buster Posey in San Francisco, the former second overall draft pick was designated for assignment and later traded to Pittsburgh in early April. Patrick Bailey had by then asserted himself as the Giants starting catcher. Bart eventually beat out Henry Davis for playing time, as Yasmani Grandal and backup Jason Delay dealt with injuries. Davis, who was drafted first overall out of Louisville as a bat-first prospect, debuted as a right fielder in 2023.

It’s possible that Davis converts to another position full-time, given Bart’s 2024 showing and the eventual return of Endy Rodríguez. The Pirates have not had a great catcher since Russell Martin (though, sure, Francisco Cervelli had some good years and Jacob Stallings won the Gold Glove in 2021). Martin was in his early 30s when he played for the Pirates. It’s unlikely that the team will invest in a quality, veteran catcher any time soon. That means the onus falls on Bart, Davis and Co. after the former's breakout 2024 season.

What Bart did last year was very reminiscent of Ryan Doumit’s excellent 2008. Both emerged during their respective age-27 seasons. In 80 games, Bart hit 13 home runs and had an OPS+ of 120, meaning he was 20% better than league average hitters, and his breakout came from a position not known for its offense in today’s game. For context, that’s better than Adley Rutschman (107), J.T. Realmuto (109) and Will Smith (116) last season, just to name a few. Realistically, Bart would not have maintained this throughout a full season, but he still has the potential to be a top 10 catcher in the league.

Last November, Bleacher Report did a ranking of their top 25, and Bart landed at No. 18, between Alejandro Kirk at No. 17 and Connor Wong at No. 19. Doumit's ceiling is a fair comparison to what Bart can become. In ‘08, Doumit hit .318 from both sides of the plate, with 15 home runs, 69 RBI and an OPS of .858 in 116 games as the Pirates primary catcher that year, good for 3.3 bWAR. FanGraphs’ assessment of his season, which includes pitch framing, isn’t as kind, but it’s hard to argue against these results. If you just saw these numbers and didn’t know they were from someone like Ryan Doumit, you would want that guy on your team.

Joey Bart's Pirates breakout reminds us of Ryan Doumit

After a career year, Doumit missed more than two months due to a wrist injury in 2009. He returned and played well, but would frequent the DL for the rest of his career. His 2011 season ended early after 77 games. To that point, he was hitting .303. Doumit became a free agent that offseason and later signed with the Twins. He spent two seasons in Minnesota and one in Atlanta, retiring after his 2014 campaign with the Braves. Doumit is currently an assistant baseball coach at Big Bend Community College in Washington State. For his career, he hit 104 home runs; 67 of those came when he played for the Pirates. That’s as many as Jason Kendall had, and more than Tony Peña and Smoky Burgess. If Joey Bart can hit as well as Doumit did and remain healthy, the Bucs won’t have to worry as much about what happens with Davis or Rodríguez.  

Doumit, although not as highly touted as Bart, was a second-round pick out of high school and was a 24-year-old rookie. There have been plenty of late bloomers in recent years, like Jake Cronenworth and Brent Rooker, that prove teams shouldn’t be so quick to give up on a player. It might be too early to say this about Bart, after just 80 games, but the sentiment remains the same. So far, it looks like the Pirates found a diamond in the rough when they acquired him. Perhaps the change of scenery had something to do with it. Joey’s father Tommy grew up in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, not far from the city, and was drafted by the Pirates in the 29th round of the 1979 June Amateur Draft, ahead of future Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl running back Curt Warner (Phillies, 32nd round).  

This season, Henry Davis and recently acquired first baseman Spencer Horwitz both have a lot to prove and will have ample opportunities to do so. As a former number one overall pick, Davis certainly has more pressure on him. Considering what the Pirates gave up to get Horwitz, fans won’t be forgiving if he disappoints, either.

Let's not forget that the Pirates have a new hitting coach in Matt Hague. Blue Jays supporters weren’t exactly thrilled when he left for Pittsburgh. Hague will have the difficult task of reviving the Pirates offense that ranked 23rd in average (.234) and 25th in home runs (160) in the majors last year.

As of now, the Pirates have a major hole in right field. They have not traded for or signed any major league talent that can take over one of the corner outfield positions. Horwitz will hit righties, so they’ll need to add someone else to the platoon at first. If this remains the case, Henry Davis has the perfect opportunity to establish himself as an everyday player, no matter the position at which his chance materializes. Don't count him out yet. He could be the next Joey Bart.