Manager Gabe Kapler erased any doubts about whether Buster Posey will return to the San Francisco Giants in 2021 on Tuesday.
Posey is a "surefire lock" to be on the roster and the team's starting catcher, Kapler said, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.
"He'll be our primary catcher, and not just a voice we'll lean on heavily, but between the lines we're going to utilize his brain and body to the best of our ability," Kapler said.
The six-time All-Star and 2012 NL MVP opted out of the 2020 season in early July due to family concerns. He and his wife Kirsten adopted twin baby girls during the summer as well.
Kapler added that Posey has used the extra time away from the diamond to get in excellent shape after struggling in 2019 following hip surgery in August 2018.
"I think everyone will notice when they see him that he has added some muscle, some usable lean tissue," Kapler said. "He's looking agile and strong and fresh. I think the time off gave him an opportunity to kind of reassess where his body was and he has taken that opportunity to make improvements."
Joey Bart, the Giants' top prospect and the league's No. 2 catching prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, will open the season at Triple-A. Bart struggled during his first major-league stint this past summer, hitting .233/.288/.320 with no home runs in 33 games. It's unclear when he'll get his next crack at the bigs.
The Giants also recently re-signed Chadwick Tromp to serve as the club's backup catcher.
