Pirates trade for C Joey Bart

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Joey Bart from the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Austin Strickland. Pittsburgh designated right-hander Colin Selby for assignment to make room for Bart on the 40-man roster. Bart, the second overall pick of the 2018 draft, was designated for assignment by San Francisco on Sunday. In parts of four seasons with the Giants, he hit .219 with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs in 162 regular-season games.

The 27-year-old Bart played in just 30 games for San Francisco last year, batting .207 with zero homers and five RBIs. Strickland, 21, has yet to appear in a game at any level. He was an eighth-round pick by the Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft. Selby, 26, went 2-2 with a 9.00 ERA in 21 appearances (five starts) for Pittsburgh last season. He hasn’t pitched yet in 2024.

READ MORE: Yoyner Fajardo is Making His Name Known with the Saints

Yoyner Fajardo is a soon-to-be 25-year-old outfielder with the St. Paul Saints. He’s made his name known, hitting a home run and walk-off single to win the Saints’ first two games of the season. It’s time Twins fans learned a bit more about him.

Several new faces are starting their 2024 seasons with the St. Paul Saints after successful seasons at Double-A Wichita or elsewhere in 2023, from catchers Patrick Winkel and Alex Isola, to veteran relievers Diego Castillo and Matt Bowman.

There’s another new name in the Saints outfield that not too many Twins fans are likely to know, at least beyond the prospect gurus, though: Meet Yoyner Fajardo.

Fajardo, who turns 25 on Saturday, is only in his second season with the Twins organization. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent on March 9, 2018. Fajardo would go on to to play the next four seasons in the Pirates system.

A left-handed hitter, Fajardo put up solid numbers as he climbed the professional ladder, with good plate discipline and speed leading his profile. In parts of two seasons (2021 and 2022) with Pittsburgh’s High-A affiliate in Greensboro, S.C., he batted .258/.342/.347, in 418 plate appearances.