Josh Barfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Josh Barfield |
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Barfield with the San Diego Padres
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: December 17, 1982 Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| April 3, 2006, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 25, 2009, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .264 | ||
| Home runs | 16 | ||
| Runs batted in | 112 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Joshua LaRoy Barfield, born on December 17, 1982, is an American baseball expert and a former professional second baseman. His dad, Jesse Barfield, was also a famous baseball player! Josh was born in Venezuela while his mom was visiting his dad during a winter baseball season. He went to Klein High School in Texas, where he set a record for the most home runs in a single season for his district. Josh also has a younger brother, Jeremy, who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics to play baseball too.
Contents
Josh Barfield's Baseball Journey
Josh Barfield started his professional baseball career after being picked in the 2001 Major League Baseball draft. He was known as a promising young player. After his playing days, he moved into a role as a baseball executive, helping teams behind the scenes.
Starting with the San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres drafted Josh in the fourth round in 2001. He quickly became one of their top young players. Baseball America even called him the Padres' number one prospect in 2004 and 2005.
Major League Debut
Josh made his first appearance in a major league game on April 3, 2006. He got his very first hit with a single against a San Francisco Giants pitcher.
First Home Run
On April 17, 2006, Josh hit his first major league home run. It was a powerful shot that traveled 431 feet!
A Walk-Off Win
Later that year, on September 4, 2006, Josh hit a special kind of home run called a walk-off home run. This means his home run ended the game immediately, giving the Padres a 7–5 victory. He said it was his first walk-off home run ever!
Rookie Season Success
In his first full season with the Padres, Josh played in 150 games. He had a good batting average of .280. He also hit 13 home runs and helped score 58 runs. He was also fast, stealing 21 bases. The Padres made it to the 2006 National League Division Series, but they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Moving to the Cleveland Indians
After his great rookie year, Josh was traded to the Cleveland Indians on November 8, 2006. He became their everyday second baseman.
Playing for the Indians
In 2007, Josh played in 130 games for the Indians. He finished the season with a .243 batting average. He also played in one game during the 2007 American League Championship Series.
Injuries and Time in the Minor Leagues
In 2008, Josh started the season in Triple-A, which is a minor league level. He was called back up to the Indians in June but then sprained a finger and was put on the disabled list. He returned later in the season.
In 2009, Josh started the season with the Indians but was sent back and forth between the major league team and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. He still managed to make an impact, like hitting a game-winning single in May. He played 17 games with the Indians that year, batting .400.
Later Career Teams
After his time with the Indians, Josh continued to play baseball for several other teams.
Second Chance with the Padres
On February 19, 2010, Josh signed a minor league contract to return to the San Diego Padres. He spent the entire season playing for their Triple-A team, the Portland Beavers.
Philadelphia Phillies
In 2011, Josh played for the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He played in 127 games that season.
Baltimore Orioles
Josh signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. He played for their Triple-A and Double-A teams before being released. He later re-signed with them and played for the Double-A Bowie Baysox.
Long Island Ducks
In 2013, Josh played for an independent team called the Long Island Ducks. He had a good season there, batting .296.
Life After Playing Baseball
After his playing career, Josh Barfield moved into a new role in baseball. In 2016, he became a professional scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks, looking for new talent. For four years, he was also the director of player development for the Diamondbacks, helping young players grow. In September 2023, he was hired as the assistant general manager for the Chicago White Sox, which is a very important leadership position in a major league team.
See also
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
