Baseball Profiles: Jeff Barry succeeded in 1999 game, saw 3 ML seasons, Japan

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Jeff Barry succeeded in 1999 game, saw 3 ML seasons, Japan

Rockies manager Jim Leyland put outfielder Jeff Barry in the lineup in this September 1999 game and Barry didn't let him down, according to The Associated Press.

Barry did so with a 10th-inning, bases-clearing double that gave Colorado at 5-2 win, The AP wrote.

"I get a gut feeling every once in a while," Leyland told The AP afterward. "He's swinging the bat well and I thought this was a decent matchup. He had a big night."

Barry had that night nearly a decade into his professional career and in the midst of his third and best season in the majors.

By the time he was done, Barry played professionally in 13 total campaigns, including those three that hit the majors and one in Japan.

Barry's career began in 1990, taken by the Expos in the fourth round of the draft out of San Diego State University. He played his high school ball at South High in Medford, Ore.

Barry started with the Expos at short-season Jamestown. He got into 51 games and hit .315. He made high-A West Palm Beach in 1991, then moved to the Mets in a trade for 1992.

Barry made AA Binghamton in 1994, then saw Binghamton, AAA Norfolk and Flushing in 1995.

Barry debuted with the Mets in June 1995. He got into 15 major league games that year and picked u two hits in 15 at bats.

He moved to the Padres system in 1996 and then to the Rockies in 1997. He returned to the bigs with Colorado in 1998. He saw another 15 games and went 6 for 34.

His 1998 time came after the Rockies' Larry Walker went down with injury. In his first game, he nearly hit a grand slam and made some difficult plays in the outfield, according to The Denver Post.

"I don't expect to be (in the lineup), but I'd like to be," Barry told The Post then. "The more at-bats I get, the happier I am. I understand that more than likely, I'll only be here a couple weeks. But I can't think like that."

Barry stayed with the big club through mid-July. He then returned for 1999 and saw 74 total games. He it .268, with five home runs and 26 RBI.

Barry moved to Japan for 2000. He played with Chiba Lotte and got into 48 games. He hit .262.

Barry finished out his career in 2001 and 2002, playing 2001 at AAA with the Dodgers and White Sox and 2002 in Mexico.

Denver Post, June 22, 1998: Barry wary but optimistic
CBS News, Associated Press, Sept. 4, 1999: Slight Slide For Mets

More: The 1990 Jamestown Expos

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,248
Made the Majors:1,171-36.1%-X
Never Made Majors:2,077-63.9%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 484
10+ Seasons in the Minors:284