May 6, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitching coach Andrew Bailey (84) and pitcher John Brebbia (59) and catcher Joey Bart (21) meet on the pitchers mound during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
In the realm of unusual injuries in Major League Baseball, a recent incident involving Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart stands out for its sheer oddity.
Bart’s absence from the Pirates’ game against the New York Mets due to a head injury might seem ordinary at first. However, the circumstances surrounding how he got injured add a strange twist to the story.
During batting practice earlier that week, Bart found himself in an unprecedented situation: he was hit in the head by a home run ball while carrying out his duties in the bullpen.
Initially, the team expected Bart to return quickly after some rest. However, they decided to be cautious and kept him out of the game against the Mets.
The Mets took advantage of Bart’s absence, winning decisively with a score of 9-1, marking their 10th win of the season.
In Bart’s place, rookie Henry Davis, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, took on the catching duties and had a 1-2 performance with a strikeout during the game.
Bart himself has an impressive background, having been chosen as the No. 2 overall pick by the San Francisco Giants in the 2018 MLB Draft. He started his major league career with the Giants in 2020 and spent four seasons with the team before being traded to the Pirates at the start of the current season.
With promising talents like Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes, the Pirates are working to speed up their rebuilding process. Bart, despite not meeting expectations during his time with the Giants, now has the chance to revive his career in Pittsburgh.
Hopefully, Bart’s unusual mishap during bullpen sessions is a one-time event, and he can avoid such peculiar accidents in the future.
