Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By: Ana Kieu

The San Francisco Giants officially launched the Joey Bart era on Sunday afternoon.

Bart was the Giants’ second overall draft pick in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. The 21-year-old previously played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

According to MLB.com, Bart signed a $7.025 million bonus. Bart’s pre-draft slot figure was $7,494,600.

Bart was the first catcher selected by the Giants in the MLB Draft since Buster Posey, a former fifth overall pick, in 2008.

History is on the Giants’ side. Aside from Posey, their previous second overall pick, Will Clark (first baseman), helped provide a much-needed boost to the struggling franchise in 1985.

Although Bart is known as a catcher, Giants’ scouting director John Barr said that the right-handed hitter has plenty of athleticism to switch positions if necessary.

The Giants will introduce Bart on Monday in their series opener versus the Miami Marlins.