The White Sox finally addressed their catching problem, and they did it by betting on a former top pick with a long way to go.
Chicago acquired Joey Bart from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for right-handed pitcher Duncan Davitt, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. With Kyle Teel out because of an ankle injury, the White Sox had been leaning on Drew Romo and Edgar Quero, and that mix simply hadn’t produced enough.
Bart arrives with plenty of baggage and a profile that’s easy to question at first glance. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants out of Georgia Tech, and he reached the majors with San Francisco in 2020. Since then, the offensive upside that once made him such a coveted prospect has never fully clicked.
His career line sits at .238/.319/.370, and his time with the Giants produced 11 home runs across 162 games before he was moved to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bart did show a burst in 2024, hitting 13 home runs with a .799 OPS in his first season there, but that production slipped in 2025, when his OPS dropped by 100 points. Pittsburgh later sent him to the Braves this year after 21 games.
In 20 games with Atlanta, Bart hit .188/.316/.375 with two home runs in 57 plate appearances. That’s not the kind of bat that changes a lineup, but the White Sox are clearly looking for something else from him.
Defense is the selling point. Baseball Savant has Bart in the 69th percentile for blocks above average and the 64th percentile for runners caught stealing above average. Chicago also believes there’s still something to work with offensively, pointing to his high bat speed and the possibility that hitting director Ryan Fuller can help adjust his approach or swing.
The move also likely closes the book on Drew Romo’s run with the White Sox. Romo hit .134/.220/.284 in 151 plate appearances and brought below-average defense with him.
As for Davitt, the return was never going to be huge. He had been a fringe top-30 White Sox prospect and didn’t project as a long-term answer either in the rotation or the bullpen. He was designated for assignment this morning, so this was probably the best value Chicago could squeeze out of that spot.
It may not be the flashy catcher addition fans were hoping for, but Bart gives the White Sox a defender who could hold the position down if the coaching staff gets more out of him. The deal also suggests the organization feels good about Edgar Quero bouncing back and Kyle Teel being back around the postseason. Fingers crossed.
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