Sunday, February 2, 2025

Rob Bargas played himself into college, two pro seasons

Rob Bargas 1991 West Palm Beach Expos baseball card

Sacramento high schooler Rob Bargas showed promise in 1986, enough that Bargas hoped to draw attention of college scouts, The Sacramento Bee wrote that May.

"I feel like something good will happen if I just keep playing the way I can," Bargas told The Bee. "I'm very confident this year. I go up to the plate knowing I will hit the ball hard somewhere no matter who's pitching."

Bargas soon did make it to college, locally in Sacramento. But he then earned a spot across the country at Florida State. From there, he then turned pro. His pro career lasted two seasons. He made high-A.

Bargas' career began in 1990, signed by the independent Salt Lake City Trappers out of Florida State.

At Florida State in 1989, Bargas knocked in four runs and went 5 for 5 in a regional win, The Orlando Sentinel wrote.

"It happened for me today, that's all," Bargas told The Sentinel after that big game.

Overall, Bargas hit .328 at Florida State in 1989, then .376 in 1990, but Bargas went undrafted. Instead, he signed with Salt Lake City.

Bargas picked up another five-hit game that August with Salt Lake City. His fifth hit, a triple, came for the game-winner in the 13th inning in a bunt situation where his manager called for him to swing away, The Deseret News wrote.

"I thought about bunting," Bargas told The News afterward, "and he wanted me to hit. I've got to respect his decision. He figured I'd get a good pitch because they wanted the out. I was lucky to get one in the right spot."

Bargas got into 58 games for Salt Lake City on the season. He hit .348, with two home runs.

Bargas then moved to the Expos system and high-A West Palm Beach for 1991. He saw 71 games and hit .266 to end his career.

Rob Bargas 1991 West Palm Beach Expos baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,485
Made the Majors:1,426-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,059-68.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:577
10+ Seasons in the Minors:357

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