Joey Bart is already beating the Dodgers. The Giants' top prospect crushed a bases-clearing double in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 4-1 spring training win over their rival on Monday.
"You're going to see a lot of down and away at this level (major leagues). And if you're taking that thing with some power the other way, you're gonna have a nice career," Mike Krukow said Tuesday on KNBR when talking about Bart's double.
The 22-year-old is off to a scorching start in his first big-league camp. Through 10 games, Bart is batting .500 with a one home run, two doubles and six RBI. His opposite-field power has been on full display as he uses his 6-foot-3 frame to extend his frame.
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While Krukow joins a long list of people praising Bart's bat, he's also noticed flaws in the young catcher's defense.
"What I see with him is he's got some bad habits behind the plate," Krukow said. "He's gonna start off in San Jose and Billy Hayes is gonna be his manager. Billy Hayes, who I think is one of the best catching coaches around, he's gonna tighten him up."
Bart is expected to start the 2019 season in Advanced Single-A with the San Jose Giants. It's no coincidence the front office named Hayes, the team's former catching coordinator, San Jose's manager for the 2019 season. He will work daily with Bart to polish him behind the dish.
"I don't think he body frames well right now," Krukow said. "He'll learn to do that. I think he's sitting up a little high. He's 6-3, so I think they'll get him a little lower."
San Francisco Giants
When the Giants selected Bart No. 2 overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, his bat was always ahead of his defense. On the 20-80 scouting scale, MLB Pipeline has Bart's defense at 55, though his arm is a 60.
"He's got a great arm," Krukow said. "We saw him throw over the weekend and he's got a really good arm. You can see the tools that made him the second pick in the country. He's justified it in my mind, but he needs work. He needs reps. He needs Billy Hayes.
"He'll be in the big leagues before long. And when he does, he ain't leaving."
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There's no doubt Bart is proving why he's such a highly regarded prospect. As Giants fans start dreaming of him in San Francisco, though, it's a good time to pump the breaks and realizes there are still developments that need to be made in the minor leagues.