Joey Bart is aware that hitters, including himself, are usually doing whatever they can to find their timing this time of year. Bart entered Monday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Yankees with only six spring at-bats to his credit and hadn't yet registered a hit, so it was evident he was still trying to get a feel for things. 

But when he stepped to the plate to face Ryan Anderson with two men on in the top of the third inning, Bart's timing seemed to be in mid-season form. He saw a first-pitch fastball sail right down the heart of the plate and didn't miss it, sending a three-run shot 404 feet into left field with an exit velocity of 109.1 mph for his first home run of the spring in the Pirates' 12-3 loss at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

"Sometimes you just turn it loose," said Bart, who also added a line-drive single on a 2-2 fastball down the pipe from MaxFried in the second inning. "It felt good." 

The Pirates are certainly hopeful that Bart can continue to have a positive impact offensively as he prepares for his first full season donning the black and gold. He set career highs with a .265/.337/.462 slash line to accompany his .799 OPS, 13 home runs and 45 RBIs in 80 games with Pittsburgh last season after being acquired in an April trade with the Giants. 

It all started, though, with Bart first finding a rhythm and subsequent success at the plate during the spring months. In 15 games with San Francisco last spring, Bart didn't show off much power, but he hit .414 with a .974 OPS, drove in six runs and walked as many times (seven) as he struck out. 

Spring results don't always translate to regular season success, but for Bart, those results appeared to be a solid launching pad for what ended up being a breakout season. This time around, he's determined to build a foundation of spring success that will carry over to when the games matter most. 

"My goal is to be better, to continue to grow, keep making strides and be the best I can be all the way across the field," Bart said, later adding that the key for him to remain consistent at the plate is maintaining focus on what he's doing and paying attention each day to how he's moving and how his swing is moving. 

"Getting in there with these guys we have to game plan and just really dive in and kinda buy in to what I do," Bart said. "That gives confidence. When you're prepared and you feel like you're taking the right process to go play, then you can just go play the game and let it happen." 

A few other notes: 

• Bart was a part of one particular play on defense that didn't help the cause of starter Bailey Falter, who allowed three runs (two earned) over 2 2/3 innings. 

Falter induced a pop up in foul territory off the bat of Trent Grisham in the second inning that Bart lost off the bat and couldn't find in the air until it ultimately hit the ground in between him and third baseman Enmanuel Valdez. 

"I've gotta find a way to catch that ball. That's just as simple as it gets," Bart said. 

Falter ended up walking Grisham and allowing all three runs in the inning, including one on a passed ball by Bart. 

"He was really good. I for sure didn't help him. We didn't help him. It's pretty unacceptable," Bart said. "I thought he threw the ball really well. All of tonight was just kinda sloppy." 

• The Pirates finished with just three hits, two of which came from Bart. The other came on an opposite-field double by Nick Yorke.

• Two of the organization's top pitching prospects struggled mightily in this one, as Bubba Chandler and Hunter Barco were hit hard for four runs apiece. Chandler allowed his runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout in just 1/3 of an inning. Barco went 1 2/3 innings, surrendering four hits and two home runs to Andrew Velazquez and George Lombard Jr. Barco walked one batter and struck out two.