Austin Barnes

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #10 prospect in 2017
  Barnes is the rare 27-year-old who is a legitimate prospect. The Marlins moved Barnes slowly through their system, then traded him to the Dodgers after the 2014 season in the six-player deal that brought Dee Gordon to Miami. He continued to be an on-base machine in Triple-A Oklahoma City but was blocked on the depth chart from getting much playing time in Los Angeles. Barnes does a stellar job of controlling the strike zone. He detects spin early and doesn't chase bad pitches. He's a calm, balanced hitter with a simple, direct stroke to make contact at a high clip and stays through the middle of the field with mostly doubles power. Barnes has just fringe-average raw speed but runs the bases well, stealing 18 bags in 21 attempts. Above-average behind the plate, Barnes excels at blocking and receiving with soft hands and highly-regarded pitch framing skills. His arm strength is average, and he threw out 25 percent of basestealers last year. He also has the versatility and athleticism to play second and third base when necessary. With the Dodgers trading Carlos Ruiz to the Mariners, Barnes should be Yasmani Grandal's full-time backup in 2017 while also seeing time at second and third base. In another organization, he would be a starter.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #8 prospect in 2016
  Barnes will be 26 in 2016, but catchers often develop later than players at other positions. A Marlins ninth-round pick in 2011, he moved through their system conservatively before being traded to the Dodgers after the 2014 season in the sixplayer deal that sent Dee Gordon to Miami. Barnes spent most of 2015 at Triple-A Oklahoma City but made his big league debut in May. Barnes has natural rhythm and balance at the plate, with a direct swing that creates whip to the barrel and results in a high contact rate. He can get somewhat pull-oriented, but he generally stays in the middle of the field. He recognizes offspeed pitches and controls the strike zone, which allows him to get on base at a high clip for a catcher. Barnes' power is mostly to the gaps, though he has enough sock to hit 8-12 home runs. He is an intelligent hitter who understands which pitches he can hit hard, though he can get himself in trouble occasionally when he tries to hit for more power. He has experience at second and third base, but the Dodgers had him focus on catching, which is where he fits best. His blocking and receiving are good, and his pitch-framing grades out well. He threw out 27 percent of basestealers at Oklahoma City with an average arm. Barnes lacks a standout tool, but he gets on base and does the little things that add to his value. He could back up Yasmani Grandal in 2016 with a chance to eventually emerge as an everyday guy along the lines of Francisco Cervelli.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #15 prospect in 2015
  Primarily a second baseman in 2012, Barnes caught almost exclusively in 2013, and the Marlins sent him back to high Class A Jupiter to start 2014 to let him catch every day. He hit his way to Double-A anyway and played second and third base as well as catching. In December, the Marlins shipped him to the Dodgers with lefthander Andrew Heaney (who was flipped to the Angels for Howie Kendrick) in a package for second baseman Dee Gordon. Barnes makes a lot of hard contact thanks to a gap-to-gap approach, barrel awareness and excellent hand-eye coordination. He has below-average power and speed. Defensively, Barnes fits better as a catcher, where he's an average receiver and thrower. Some scouts question his durability as a catcher due to his modest size. His hands are a bit hard in the infield, but he's an improved second baseman with the tools to be an average defender. At the very least, Barnes should enjoy a nice major league career as a utility man like his uncle, Mike Gallego.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #20 prospect in 2014
  After spending the bulk of 2012 at second base, Barnes reversed roles last year and played 75 games behind the plate. Hitting is his most intriguing tool. He gives a quality at-bat, working counts and looking for his pitch. Barnes has below-average power but uses strong wrists and hands to pepper opposite-field liners. He's a solid receiver with good hands and moves quickly on balls in the dirt. His footwork is good and he has a quick release, but his arm is below-average. With more time at second he could become average, but his bat profiles better at catcher. A slightly below-average runner, Barnes is a hustler who plays hard. He's too small to forecast as a regular catcher, but his versatility and bat should be valuable as a reserve.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #29 prospect in 2013
  The nephew of former big league utilityman Mike Gallego, Barnes shifted from infield to catcher when injuries created a need at Arizona State. Though he started the 2012 South Atlantic League all-star game at catcher, he spent most of the season at second base. His average bat profiles well at either spot. He consistently makes hard contact with a compact swing, peppering line drives all over the field, and has gap power geared more for doubles than for homers. He has a patient, disciplined approach with enough confidence to let the ball travel deep and take it the other way. An average runner, he shows good instincts on the bases. Fundamentally sound behind the plate, Barnes looked comfortable even playing there only once a week. He has quick feet and soft hands, and he blocks and receives well. His arm is a tick below average, but he has a quick, accurate release. Small for a full-time catcher, he needs to get stronger. He's athletic enough to play anywhere on the infield, though his arm is light for anything more than spot duty on the left side. The Marlins see him as a catcher and would like to get him more time behind the plate in high Class A this season.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Barnes is the rare 27-year-old who is a legitimate prospect. The Marlins moved Barnes slowly through their system, then traded him to the Dodgers after the 2014 season in the six-player deal that brought Dee Gordon to Miami. He continued to be an on-base machine in Triple-A Oklahoma City but was blocked on the depth chart from getting much playing time in Los Angeles. Scouting Report: Barnes does a stellar job of controlling the strike zone. He detects spin early and doesn't chase bad pitches. He's a calm, balanced hitter with a simple, direct stroke to make contact at a high clip and stays through the middle of the field with mostly doubles power. Barnes has just fringe-average raw speed but runs the bases well, stealing 18 bags in 21 attempts. Above-average behind the plate, Barnes excels at blocking and receiving with soft hands and highly-regarded pitch framing skills. His arm strength is average, and he threw out 25 percent of basestealers last year. He also has the versatility and athleticism to play second and third base when necessary.
  
  The Future: With the Dodgers trading Carlos Ruiz to the Mariners, Barnes should be Yasmani Grandal's full-time backup in 2017 while also seeing time at second and third base. In another organization, he would be a starter.