Joey Bart’s rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A Indianapolis on June 12, a clear sign he is getting closer to returning from the left foot infection that sent him to the injured list in May.
That matters now because the Pirates do not have an open-catching question waiting in a vacuum. Endy Rodríguez was called up in Bart’s absence, Henry Davis remains part of the mix, and Bart’s return will force the club to decide how to fit three catchers around one job. For readers following the roster picture, that is the reason Bart’s name is back in circulation, and it connects directly to the latest Pirates catcher update.
Bart began his rehab in Bradenton before moving on to Indianapolis, which usually marks a step from recovery work to a more advanced test against upper-level pitching. He landed on the injured list in May with the infection, and since then the Pirates have had to carry on without a catcher who has MLB experience, right-handed power potential and remaining club control. That combination is part of why his progress draws notice even before the exact return date is known.
The problem for the Pirates is that Bart’s timing now collides with the job Rodriguez has done in his place. Rodríguez has played well enough to make the decision harder, while Davis is still being given runway, and that leaves the club with no easy answer if Bart is ready sooner rather than later. A tidy solution may not exist, which is why every step in the rehab assignment now carries roster weight.
There is also a broader layer to Bart’s availability. Jim Bowden’s latest mailbag at The Athletic listed him among realistic catcher options for the New York Yankees, pointing to the right-handed hitting catchers market as one more reason his status is being watched beyond Pittsburgh. For now, though, the immediate issue is simpler: Bart is moving closer to the Pirates, and the next move belongs to the team. The return timeline remains TBD, but when it comes, someone in the catching group will feel it.
For a full look at how the Pirates have handled the catching situation in Bart’s absence, see the Endy Rodriguez update: Pirates give no timetable after Joey Bart lands on injured list.
