Glen Barker
Encyclopedia
Glen F. Barker is a former outfielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Houston Astros
. He was a leadoff hitter
with great defensive skills and was used mainly as a pinch runner
. He has the rare distinction of having more major league career runs scored (53) than hits (38). He currently serves as a scout for the Astros.
Barker attended Albany High School
and the College of St. Rose, an NCAA Division II school in one of the only college conferences to use wood bats throughout the leagues' season.
Barker was selected by Detroit Tigers
in 11th Round (305th overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft. Known for his speed on the basepaths (238 career minor league steals) and in center field, Barker advanced as far as Triple A with the Toledo Mudhens, but was selected by the Astros from Tigers in the 1998 MLB Rule 5 draft
. Per Rule 5, he spent the 1999 season on the Astros' roster. He was successful in very limited playing time, used mostly as a pinch runner and sometimes as a pinch hitter Barker hit .288 stole 17 bases that season. Barker appeared in 2 games against Atlanta
in the NLDS, stealing a base and scoring a run.
Barker spent the 2000 season between the major league club and AAA New Orleans
. He struggled for the Astros, batting .224 in 67 at bats. 2001 was a similar year, as Barker struggled mightily at the plate (.083 batting average in just 24 at bats) and was again used primarily as a pinch runner. Although attracted to Barker's blazing speed, the Astros felt that his bat was not developing as they had hoped and they released him after the 2001 season.
Before the 2002 season, Barker was signed by the Montreal Expos
but released after Spring Training
. He was picked up by the Boston Red Sox
and assigned to AAA Pawtucket
. Again Barker struggled with the bat and was released by the Red Sox after appearing in only 14 games. He signed with Reynosa
in the Mexican League and spent the remainder of the season there.
He signed with the Atlanta Braves
before the 2003 season but was once again released after Spring Training. He played 3 games with the Somerset Patriots
an independent team in the Atlantic League
before being picked up by the Baltimore Orioles and assigned to the AA Bowie Baysox
. After batting just .237 in a brief stint for the Baysox, Barker retired from baseball.
Barker is married and currently resides in Albany, New York
. He is currently the outfield/baserunning coordinator for the San Diego Padres
.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He was a leadoff hitter
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
with great defensive skills and was used mainly as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
. He has the rare distinction of having more major league career runs scored (53) than hits (38). He currently serves as a scout for the Astros.
Barker attended Albany High School
Albany High School, Albany, New York
Albany High School in Albany, New York, United States, is a public high school with an enrollment of about 2,400 students for the 2010-11 school year. The school is part of the City School District of Albany. It opened on September 7, 1868 as the Albany Free Academy...
and the College of St. Rose, an NCAA Division II school in one of the only college conferences to use wood bats throughout the leagues' season.
Barker was selected by Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 11th Round (305th overall) of 1993 amateur entry draft. Known for his speed on the basepaths (238 career minor league steals) and in center field, Barker advanced as far as Triple A with the Toledo Mudhens, but was selected by the Astros from Tigers in the 1998 MLB Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. Per Rule 5, he spent the 1999 season on the Astros' roster. He was successful in very limited playing time, used mostly as a pinch runner and sometimes as a pinch hitter Barker hit .288 stole 17 bases that season. Barker appeared in 2 games against Atlanta
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the NLDS, stealing a base and scoring a run.
Barker spent the 2000 season between the major league club and AAA New Orleans
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
. He struggled for the Astros, batting .224 in 67 at bats. 2001 was a similar year, as Barker struggled mightily at the plate (.083 batting average in just 24 at bats) and was again used primarily as a pinch runner. Although attracted to Barker's blazing speed, the Astros felt that his bat was not developing as they had hoped and they released him after the 2001 season.
Before the 2002 season, Barker was signed by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
but released after Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He was picked up by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and assigned to AAA Pawtucket
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
. Again Barker struggled with the bat and was released by the Red Sox after appearing in only 14 games. He signed with Reynosa
Broncos de Reynosa
The Reynosa Broncos are a Mexican team that play in the Adolfo Lopez Mateos stadium in the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas.The Broncos de Reynosa play in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol and it's part of the Zona Norte division....
in the Mexican League and spent the remainder of the season there.
He signed with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
before the 2003 season but was once again released after Spring Training. He played 3 games with the Somerset Patriots
Somerset Patriots
The Somerset Patriots are an American professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
an independent team in the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
before being picked up by the Baltimore Orioles and assigned to the AA Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
. After batting just .237 in a brief stint for the Baysox, Barker retired from baseball.
Barker is married and currently resides in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. He is currently the outfield/baserunning coordinator for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.