Joey Bart Gives Braxton Ashcraft’s Family Unforgettable Gender Reveal

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart plays in a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH — One thing stood out when Joey Bart took the field ahead of Thursday afternoon’s game against the Washington Nationals.

The Pittsburgh Pirates catcher’ was wearing a pink sleeve on his right arm. No, it wasn’t an example of Bart making a fashion statement. It was to let the families of starter Braxton Ashcraft and his wife, Cassidy, know that the baby they’re expecting is a girl.

“It was cool,” Bart said on his part in the gender reveal. “He was like, ‘Hey, whoever’s catching that day, I need something.’ And I was like, ‘Only for you, man. I’ll do it for you.’ I’m not a super flashy guy, but obviously that situation trumps everything, and I’m just happy for him.”

Braxton and Cassidy already knew what the gender of their baby will be, but this was a unique way of letting family in attendance and others watching on TV now what the newest addition to the Ashcraft clan will be.

“Me and my wife have known for a while now so, getting that off our chests, being able to celebrate that with our families, it was really cool,” Ashcraft said, “I’m just thankful for [manager Don Kelly] and [general manager Ben Cherington] for letting us be able to do that and for Joey to go out there and have a pink armband on.”

Ashcraft, now in his second year with the Pirates, is thankful for the opportunity the game offered him to provide his family with a memory they will never forget.

“This game is bigger than baseball,” Ashcraft explained. “It gives us an opportunity to be able to provide for our families in a way that we never thought was possible and to be able to celebrate that with the people in this clubhouse. It’s a really cool opportunity, everything is about it is rewarding.”