Reds prospect Barnhart looks to continue road to Majors
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — Cincinnati Reds fans will want to remember the name Tucker Barnhart, as the minor league catcher named the 2013 Reds Caravan's "Rookie of the Year" has been invited to the Reds' upcoming spring training camp for the second year in a row and looks to be a rising star in the organization.
On his second consecutive tour of the annual Reds Caravan, Barnhart said he was having "a blast" spending time with members of the Reds organization and their fans.
"It's been good," Barnhart told The Highland County Press, in an interview at WBEX 1490 AM/WCHO-1250 AM radio station during a stop on the Reds' 2013 Caravan tour. "It's my second year on the caravan, so I knew what to expect … it's always a blast."
A native of Indianapolis, Barnhart graduated from Brownsburg High School, where he was named the number-one baseball player in the state by Baseball America during his senior year. He was selected by the Reds in the 10th round of the June 2009 draft (299th overall).
Barnhart was named the best defensive catcher in the Cincinnati Reds system for the past two years. Additionally, Barnhart was the recipient of a Gold Glove award for Minor League Baseball in 2011, and the following year was rated the best defensive catcher in the California League by the league's managers.
In 2012, Barnhart played 59 games for Bakersfield Blaze in the California League (class A) and 41 games for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the Southern League (class AA), where he averaged a combined .247 from both teams. Last season, Barnhart totaled 81 hits, including 16 doubles, two triples and six home runs. He totaled 34 RBIs and 36 runs.
In 2011, Barnhart played in 97 games with the Dayton Dragons (class A), where he finished the year with a .273 batting average with 89 hits (24 doubles, two triples, three home runs), along with 43 RBIs and 47 runs.
Barnhart described himself as a "defense-first" player.
"I really take pride in the way I play defense," Barnhart said. "I think that shows on the field."
Barnhart is also a switch hitter (throws right), having been inspired by a famous switch hitter as a youth.
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"Growing up, I started switch hitting because of Chipper Jones," Barnhart said. "He's probably my favorite baseball player ever."
In addition to longtime Atlanta Braves third baseman Jones, who retired at the end of the 2012 season, Barnhart named another recent retiree as an inspiration. The player Barnhart looks up to most in his own position is catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who retired in 2011 after a 20-year career with a number of teams that included playing in the World Baseball Classic and being awarded MVP, All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger honors. Rodriguez, known as "Pudge," won a World Series title with the Florida Marlins in 2003 but played a majority of his career with the Texas Rangers.
"I hope to catch like him someday," Barnhart said.
It was announced earlier this month that Barnhart has been invited to attend spring training with the Reds in Goodyear, Ariz. for the second time.
"Being invited to the big league camp for the second year in a row is an honor," Barnhart said. "It's a step in the right direction."
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Barnhart is expected to continue playing for the Blue Wahoos but hopes to progress from there.
"Going into it, I hope to start in Pensacola, which is double-A, and I hope to go to Louisville, which is triple-A.
"I have a good feeling going into the year. It's a fresh start."
On his second consecutive tour of the annual Reds Caravan, Barnhart said he was having "a blast" spending time with members of the Reds organization and their fans.
"It's been good," Barnhart told The Highland County Press, in an interview at WBEX 1490 AM/WCHO-1250 AM radio station during a stop on the Reds' 2013 Caravan tour. "It's my second year on the caravan, so I knew what to expect … it's always a blast."
A native of Indianapolis, Barnhart graduated from Brownsburg High School, where he was named the number-one baseball player in the state by Baseball America during his senior year. He was selected by the Reds in the 10th round of the June 2009 draft (299th overall).
Barnhart was named the best defensive catcher in the Cincinnati Reds system for the past two years. Additionally, Barnhart was the recipient of a Gold Glove award for Minor League Baseball in 2011, and the following year was rated the best defensive catcher in the California League by the league's managers.
In 2012, Barnhart played 59 games for Bakersfield Blaze in the California League (class A) and 41 games for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the Southern League (class AA), where he averaged a combined .247 from both teams. Last season, Barnhart totaled 81 hits, including 16 doubles, two triples and six home runs. He totaled 34 RBIs and 36 runs.
In 2011, Barnhart played in 97 games with the Dayton Dragons (class A), where he finished the year with a .273 batting average with 89 hits (24 doubles, two triples, three home runs), along with 43 RBIs and 47 runs.
Barnhart described himself as a "defense-first" player.
"I really take pride in the way I play defense," Barnhart said. "I think that shows on the field."
Barnhart is also a switch hitter (throws right), having been inspired by a famous switch hitter as a youth.
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"Growing up, I started switch hitting because of Chipper Jones," Barnhart said. "He's probably my favorite baseball player ever."
In addition to longtime Atlanta Braves third baseman Jones, who retired at the end of the 2012 season, Barnhart named another recent retiree as an inspiration. The player Barnhart looks up to most in his own position is catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who retired in 2011 after a 20-year career with a number of teams that included playing in the World Baseball Classic and being awarded MVP, All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger honors. Rodriguez, known as "Pudge," won a World Series title with the Florida Marlins in 2003 but played a majority of his career with the Texas Rangers.
"I hope to catch like him someday," Barnhart said.
It was announced earlier this month that Barnhart has been invited to attend spring training with the Reds in Goodyear, Ariz. for the second time.
"Being invited to the big league camp for the second year in a row is an honor," Barnhart said. "It's a step in the right direction."
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Barnhart is expected to continue playing for the Blue Wahoos but hopes to progress from there.
"Going into it, I hope to start in Pensacola, which is double-A, and I hope to go to Louisville, which is triple-A.
"I have a good feeling going into the year. It's a fresh start."