San Francisco Giants: Joey Bart named to AFL All-Star Game

San Francisco Giants top prospect Joey Bart will be suiting up in this year’s Arizona Fall League All-Star Game.

The annual Arizona Fall League is a chance for some of the top prospects around baseball to prove themselves against a high level of competition, and San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart has done just that.

On Tuesday, the rosters for the Fall Stars Game—the league’s version of an All-Star Game—were announced and it was no surprise to see Bart included on the East roster.

Here’s a full look at the Fall Stars Game rosters:

After hitting .278/.328/.495 with 16 home runs and 48 RBI in 79 games during an injury-shortened regular season, Bart has been one of the most productive hitters in the AFL.

In 34 plate appearances, he’s hitting .400/.559/.920 with four home runs and 10 RBI.

He’s also tallied more walks (8) than strikeouts (5), showing the advanced approach that has led many to believe he could be wearing a San Francisco Giants uniform at some point during the 2020 season.

“Those guys will have the opportunity to earn their way potentially all the way up to the big leagues next year but it’s going to be up to them,” team president Farhan Zaidi told reporters with regard to Bart and fellow top prospect Heliot Ramos.

With Buster Posey under contract through the 2021 season, it will be interesting to see how the San Francisco Giants go about clearing a path for Bart once he is deemed ready.

The obvious course of action would be to move Posey to first base, but incumbent Brandon Belt is also signed through 2021, which complicates things.

Regardless, expect Bart to be given the everyday job as soon as the front office decides he’s equipped to handle it.

Joey Bart was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft for a reason, and all signs point to him being a cornerstone piece for years to come, not unlike the homegrown Posey has been for the past decade.