New York Yankees. He drove in 716 runs and averaged 20 home runs a year, including the 1986 season in which he led the majors with 40.
Those numbers have cast a long shadow. The name, a bit more unique than “Smith” or “Johnson,” has set expectations extremely high for Josh Barfield
Barfield doesn’t mind the daily comparisons to his dad. He is always willing to speak about their relationship with the myriad reporters who repeatedly hammer him with the same questions.
Casting His Own Shadow.
This year, Josh is having such a stellar season that people are starting to take notice of his achievements. In many ways he is developing beyond his father’s long shadow.
“He’s trying to have quality at-bats,”said the elder Barfield, dean of the game and student of his son’s play.
“I’ve beat him in everything,” Josh said with a wide smile. “He’s always said I should be better than him. I learn from my experience, and I have his.”
For Barfield, the pressures of being a star’s son have worked in his favor.
“It really hasn’t been a burden,” Josh said. “As close as me and my dad are, it’s made us even closer. We always joke around. I’ll tell him I hit for a higher average than he did in A-ball. It’s fun. I have the motivation to beat all the things my dad did, but at the same time, we’re different players, so I have to go out there and be myself.”
A Standout Amongst Current Legacies in Baseball
Josh Barfield, 20, isn’t the only player in the minor leagues with a father who had success in the big leagues. Tony Pena Jr., Tim Raines Jr. and Prince Fielder (Cecil’s son) are just a few of the other scions of the mighty. Among them, Josh may be the one having the best season.
A second baseman for the Lake Elsinore Storm of the High Class A California League, this Padres prospect entered August leading the 10-team league in RBIs (96) and hits (147), was second with a .346 batting average, third with 79 runs scored, fourth with 32 doubles and fifth with a .541 slugging percentage.
Josh’s RBI and hit totals through the season’s first four months were the best in the minor leagues, and his 13 home runs had already eclipsed his combined total from his first two professional seasons. Power, however, is not his focus.
“I’m not worried about the home runs. You have to be a good hitter before you develop the power. I think I could probably hit more home runs if I tried, but I’d also lose points on my average, and I wouldn’t want to sacrifice that.”
Potential Padres POY
Josh, fighting for the league’s batting title, could be named the league’s MVP at season’s end. He would be a difficult player to argue against for the Padres’ Minor League Player of the Year award.
He shared that honor with another player last season, when he hit .306 with 22 doubles and 57 RBIs in 129 games for Fort Wayne (Ind.) of the Low Class A Midwest League.
