The Giants tabbed Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart with the second pick in the 2018 MLB draft on Monday.
Bart, a Buford native, joins the organization that developed his idol, Buster Posey.
If all goes well, it sets up for Bart to be Posey’s heir apparent, with the South Georgia native likely moving to first base in the future.
Bart hit an ACC-best .359 this season with a .632 slugging percentage. He won ACC player of the year and defensive player of the year honors, along with the Johnny Bench Award, given to the best catcher.
He’s the highest selected catcher since Florida’s Mike Zunino went to the Mariners at No. 3 overall in 2012. He’s only the fifth catcher to go in the top five in the past decade.
Bart spoke with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in May about his season and draft outlook.
Bart becomes the highest draft pick in Tech baseball history, bettering pitcher Kevin Brown, who was picked fourth overall by the Texas Rangers in 1986 before going on to make six All-Star games in 19 seasons.
He also tied basketball’s Kenny Anderson and football’s Calvin Johnson for the highest selection by a Tech athlete in a professional sports draft across Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA, the WNBA and the National Pro Fastpitch Softball.
Staff writer Ken Sugiura contributed to this article.
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