Brian Barden Stats & Scouting Report

AB	175
AVG	.211
OBP	.268
SLG	.303
HR	4

Full name Brian David Barden
Born 04/02/1981 in Templeton, CA
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Oregon State
Debut 04/03/2007
Drafted in the 6th round (189th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002.

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The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Barden has been a steady college player, making him the state's top prospect. He's not physically imposing or athletic, making comparisons to big league third basemen David Bell and Ron Cey appropriate. His style of hitting should transfer well to wood bats. He has good bat speed, a good eye and a knack for hitting in the clutch. He's an adequate defender.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

Barden doesn't get much attention but keeps plugging away for the Diamondbacks and hitting enough that he's about to force his way into a big league job. He has added power to his offensive game and versatility to his defense in the last couple of seasons, making him a legitimate candidate for a utility job. Barden is the kind of player who just grinds out solid performances every day, and at the end of the year has produced good numbers. He has a nice line-drive stroke and is a good situational hitter, and his overall hitting approach has improved a little bit every year. On defense, his hands are as good as just about anyone in the organization. While third base is his best position, he played all four infield spots in Triple-A last season. He went to the Mexican Pacific League for winter ball and performed well as the starting third baseman for Hermosillo, priming him to compete for a bench job in spring training. In the right situation, he'll be a great role player for a big league team.
Barden consistently has hit for average throughout his minor league career, and he took another step forward in Triple-A last year by establishing career highs in home runs and RBIs. He has a line-drive approach and uses all fields, and he did a better job of recognizing mistakes and punishing them in 2005. Barden never will be a true power hitter, and he racks up too many strikeouts for a player whose primary offensive value revolves around his batting average. He's a free swinger who draws few walks. He's no more than an average runner, though he has good instincts on the basepaths. He's an above-average defender at third base, with good hands, quick reactions and plus arm strength. Blocked by Troy Glaus in Arizona, Barden saw time at second base last year. The Diamondbacks think he could fill in at all four infield positions if needed. He'll get a shot in spring training to earn a reserve role on the big league club.
Barden is essentially a righthanded-hitting version of Chad Tracy with even less power. It's tough to overcome that rap at an infield corner, and a .399 slugging percentage in the hitter-friendly Texas League last year didn't help his cause. But Barden has overcome plenty in his career, becoming a three-time all-Pacific-10 Conference player at Oregon State after taking one of the few scholarship offers he received. He didn't get a lot of draft attention, but still earned a spot on the California League all-star team in his half-season pro debut. Barden's compact stroke and ability to make adjustments should allow him to hit at any level, and in fairness his power was diminished by a thumb injury that cost him a month last summer. Like Jarred Ball, he'll have to draw more walks if he's not going to provide more pop. Barden's quick, athletic play and solid arm give him Gold Glove potential at third base. He reminds some scouts of David Bell or a young Jeff Cirillo. Barden could play second base if needed but isn't nearly the same caliber of defender in the middle of the diamond. If Tracy doesn't make the big league club in his battle with Shea Hillenbrand for Arizona's third-base job, Barden could return to Double-A.
A late bloomer in high school, Barden didn't receive many scholarship offers and signed with Oregon State after the Beavers noticed him in a summer tournament. He became a two-time all-Pacific-10 Conference third baseman, and pulled off something even rarer after signing last June. Despite missing the first half of the season, he made the California League all-star team. Barden doesn't have a classic power hitter's body but has a compact stroke that produces gap power. He makes continual adjustments at the plate and seldom gives away at-bats. He has a great mental approach, never getting too high or too low. Barden looks like a future Gold Glover at third base and scouts consider him similar to David Bell. If he continues to hit as he did in his debut, Barden will give Chad Tracy a run for the right to succeed Matt Williams at the hot corner in Arizona.