In the magical mystery tour of money ball, Barton goes to bat for Billy Ball as the hidden gem in the Mark Mulder deal. Haren and Calero yield short term dividends. Daric Barton is a long-term capital gain.
He was a star at Huntington Beach high, considered by scouts to be one of the best in the high school ranks.
The Cardinals sent him to Johnson City in the Appalachian League (Rookie Ball) after signing him, designating him as a catcher.
He hit.294/.424 for those Cardinals, with 14/5/5 in doubles, triples and homers, and 47 RBIs. He only struck out 56 times, with a good 56/23 strikeout to walk ratio.
Barton bashed a bunch (.313/.511) in Class A for Peoria in the Midwest League, with 13 homers and 77 RBIs.
This year with the Stockton Ports he was Moby Dick, the Great White Batter, scuttling many a pitcher's record and sending them to the bottom, while his average and slugging percentage soared skyward (.318/.469).
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Player: Daric
W. Barton
Position: First
Base (1B)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195
Birthdate: 08.16.85
Bats: L
Throws: R
High School: Huntington Beach (CA)
Organization: Oakland Athletics
Acquired: Cardinals, 2003 1st Round, 28th OA; Traded to Athletics for Mark Mulder (LHP) along with RHPs Dan Haren and Kiko Calero.
Signed By: Dan Ontiveros
Last Ballclub: Midland
Rockhounds
2004 FAB50 Ranking: 41
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He was promoted to the Texas League's Class-AA club, the Midland Rockhounds, on July 4th. He's the Godzilla of Texas, batting .331/.523 with 4 home runs, 18 RBIs, and just 18Ks.
The numbers back up notes from the scouts and touts who say that Barton has a great ability to read the ball and isolate movement in the zone.
So what's the downside to the guy that A's GM Billy Beane has called one of the "best pure hitters" in the minors?
One scout compared him to Mike Piazza as a catcher. It wasn't a compliment. Barton got his shot at being a catcher. There were those seeing him at the Rookie level who thought that he might have a chance with some work.
Prevailing wisdom amongst scouts and touts two promotions later is that he's not getting much better in the D-department behind the plate. So you do what any right-thinking big-league club with a killer batter who has not shined in his position does: You send him to first base.
First baseman Barton is doing better on the D-side, and still breathing fire and destroying small cities throughout the Texas League. He moves up from 41 on the FAB50 to No. 25 overall this year.
We've seen good movement and great numbers on the O-end of his career. Once he puts the D-side together with more confidence, and the A's magician of money math, the original Mr. Beane, can make a path for him, we see Barton tearing it up for the As.
For now, his next stop is likely to be Sacramento, not Oakland. We assume he'll be getting acclimating call-ups to the big O, possibly before the end of this season. Look for him in a big league uni some time in 2007.
See also: MLN FAB50 2004
