Baseball in Fort Wayne

As a rookie, second generation Major Leaguer, Josh Barfield won the San Diego padres starting gig at second base during Spring Training in 2006. During Spring Training, he batted .433 with 20 runs and 18 RBIs over 21 games. After that season, his performance had him on many folk’s short list for National League Rookie of the Year. While hid didn’t win, he posted a solid .280 average with 13 dingers, 58 runs batted in and 21 stolen bases.

He was traded to the Cleveland Indians during that offseason for Kevin Kouzmanoff to shore third base after slotting many failures in that spot.

But the new surroundings didn’t treat Josh Barfield that well. A heavy slump and the strong play of his replacement, Asdrubal Cabrera, over the final six weeks of last season left him without a job. And now he is fighting to regain his place on the roster.

“I’m not here to make the Buffalo team,” he said. “I can’t worry about things that are out of my hands. I’m here to make this team.” [source: SI.com]

The 22-year-old Cabrera was a big factor in the Indians’ charge to the AL Central title last season and seems to have a lock on the job. Though his natural position is shortstop, it’s unlikely he’ll make the shift over there given that Jhonny Peralta has pretty much established that as his domain.

Josh Barfield was selected in the fourth round of the 2001 draft. After a brief stint in Idaho Falls, he joined the Fort Wayne Wizards in 2002 and quickly profiled his skills. During that season, he compiled a .306 average while producing 164 hits, 73 runs and 57 runs batted in. Read more about Josh Barfield and see more pictures of on pages 116 and 117 of Baseball in Fort Wayne.

Photo courtesy of the Fort Wayne Wizards.

Update: Several Cleveland bloggers have weighed in on the Barfield discussion at Baseball Digest Daily.

[tags]Josh Barfield, trades, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, baseball in fort wayne, ft. wayne[/tags]