​Joey Bart stepped up in the eighth inning of a scoreless Wednesday night at PNC Park, turning on a Dennis Santana slider with two outs and Mike Yastrzemski on second. He crushed it 422 feet to left-center field for a two-run homer that gave the Atlanta Braves all they needed in a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The blast came against the team that traded Bart to Atlanta just three weeks earlier, adding an extra layer of sweetness for a catcher still finding his footing since arriving in Atlanta.
After the game, Braves manager Walt Weiss spoke about what Bart has brought to the club since the June 18 trade that sent right-hander Hunter Stratton to Pittsburgh. “He’s got some presence back there behind the plate,” Weiss said. “He can hit a ball in the seats like he did. He’s been a nice pickup.” That praise comes from a manager who has been pushing his team to lean into its power identity, and Bart’s homer fit perfectly into that vision in a game where the Braves managed just five hits but still found a way to win.
The Braves needed Bart because they were short-handed behind the plate. Sean Murphy has been on the 60-day injured list since May with a broken finger, and Atlanta had been relying on Sandy León as a backup who was hitting just .091. Bart provided a clear upgrade: a right-handed bat and a veteran presence alongside starter Drake Baldwin. While his overall numbers this season—.229 with four home runs in 31 games between Pittsburgh and Atlanta—aren’t flashy, Weiss highlighted Bart’s defensive presence as a crucial factor for a pitching staff that has been among the best in the National League.
Having a catcher who can both manage a game and deliver a moment at the plate is exactly what the Braves needed. The win pushed Atlanta to 53-38 and kept them atop the NL East, though the Phillies have closed to within three games after Atlanta endured a 3-7 stretch over a 10-game span heading into Wednesday. Bart’s big swing arrived at just the right time, halting the skid and providing a lift when the team needed it most.
Bart’s connections off the field also matter in this storyline. Growing up in Buford, Georgia, and playing college ball at Georgia Tech means he’s playing closer to home than most players who make a midseason impact. That local link, while not reflected in the box score, adds an extra layer of meaning for Braves fans and staff who recognize the value of a player who is comfortable in the area and in the clubhouse.
Weiss’s assessment makes one thing clear: the Braves aren’t just counting on Bart for a moment of power; they’re counting on him to anchor a pitching staff and contribute to a culture that emphasizes both performance and presence behind the plate. In a season that has seen Atlanta emphasize its strength and depth, Bart’s welcome return to prominence in a Braves uniform underscores the club’s broader strategy of filling gaps with reliable, versatile contributions that boost both win-now results and future potential.