Until this season, the only question with Daric Barton was: Where do we play him?
The Cardinals made him their first-round draft pick (28th overall) in 2003 as a catcher. Last year, in a new organization, the Oakland Athletics shuttled him to the outfield and first base as well.
Now that first base seems to be the answer, it provokes a new question about Barton: Can he recover from his fractured elbow?
“Barring any setbacks, he’ll be back in mid-August,” said Keith Lieppman, Oakland’s director of player development. “He’ll play some rehab in Arizona and we expect him back in Triple-A before it’s over.”
A lot has happened to a player who won’t be 21 until Aug. 16.
Before last season, the Athletics obtained him when they traded Mark Mulder to St. Louis.
Barton’s .318 average, eight homers and 52 runs batted in at high Class A Stockton were good enough for a promotion to Double-A Midland. There, it was more of the same, with Daric driving five homers and 37 RBI on the way to a .316 average.
The 6-0, 225-pound left-handed batter became the youngest player at Triple-A Sacramento this Spring. He batted just .259 with two homers and 22 RBI in 43 games before he was injured when a base runner hit Barton’s arm on a play at first base.
“He was just getting to find his way,” Lieppman said.
Despite his low avenge, Barton posted a .389 on-base percentage for Sacramento. In his first three years, he had reached base 43 per cent of the time.
Lieppman said. “He’s a pure hitter, very instinctual and very selective. He gives you a good at-bat. He’s developing power. That’s the last thing that comes with these guys who hit the ball the other way.
“First base is probably his best position, but with Nick Swisher and Dan Johnson, we don’t have to rush him.”
Barton moves down to 45 on this year's list, more because of the volume of players that are list worthy than anything of his own doing. With us since 2004, this is his final season on the list. We expect him to have a good shot at competing for a major league job late in 2007 with a likelihood that he will have a spot somewhere in 2008. He remains an excellent trade prospect under the right circumstances.
- Lary BUMP
