Athletes - Daric Barton

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	Athletes - Daric Barton

Daric W. Barton (born August 16, 1985 in Springfield, Vermont) is a minor league baseball player currently in the Oakland Athletics organization. He was a 1st-round draft pick (28th overall) in 2003 by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. Barton had signed on to attend Cal State Fullerton and play baseball there, but accepted a one million dollar signing bonus from the Cardinals instead. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.

Barton spent two years in the St. Louis Cardinals organization before being traded along with Danny Haren and Kiko Calero to the Athletics for Mark Mulder on December 18th, 2004. After having an emergency appendicectomy part way through spring training, Barton started 2005 slowly, but ended the year with a .317 Batting Average. He spent most of 2005 with the Single-A Stockton Ports of the California League but also appeared in 56 games for the AA Midland RockHounds of the Texas League. He is widely regarded as the best prospect in the Oakland organization, and arguably the best offensive player in the minor leagues. However, it is unknown which defensive position will best suit him in the major leagues. With the Cardinals Barton played catcher but the Oakland Athletics moved Barton to first base due to concerns with Barton's ability behind the plate, the negative impact cathing can have on the development of a young hitter, and because the A's had a number of more advanced catching prospects. Barton played third base in high school but at this point first base, catcher, and designated hitter are the most likely possibilities. It seems unlikely that Barton will join the Athletics on a permanent basis before 2007 as the team has higly capable starters and backups at all of Barton's probable positions. With first baseman Dan Johnson, designated hitter Frank Thomas, catcher Jason Kendall the Athletics have no place for Barton in 2006. Thomas and outfielder Nick Swisher can both play first base and Adam Melhuse is a decent backup to Kendall.

In a three-year minor league career, Barton is a .311 hitter with 30 home runs and 195 runs batted in 279 games.

Barton is known as a patient hitter who hits for a high on base percentage and walks more than he strikes out.

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Athletes - Daric Barton

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