Blue Jays broadcasters and analysts: A look at their playing days

Kevin Barker

126 games played over 5 MLB seasons
.249 AVG  –  .328 OBP  –  6 HR

Baseball Central’s Kevin Barker has seen more ball parks than you could count, and his career journey through the minor leagues, Mexico, and the Dominican is a fascinating one.

Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round of the 1996 MLB Draft, Barker would stay with the organization through his major league debut in 1999 up until he was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2002 for minor league catcher Dusty Wathan.

Barker bounced around the minor leagues for years, resurfacing at the major league level in 2006 with the Blue Jays and 2009 with the Cincinnati Reds.

Along the way, though, Barker played in the Mexican Pacific Winter League and Dominican Winter League. Below is footage from 2010 when Barker was playing in the Dominican (jump to 1m10s).

Some of the numbers he put up outside of the big leagues are downright impressive. He has a whopping 247 career minor league home runs with another 34 recorded in foreign leagues.

Playing his final year of professional ball at 35 with Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Mexican League, Barker hit .358 with a 1.048 OPS, driving in 79 runs in just 85 games. In his last season of triple-A ball, 2009 with the Lousville Bats, he launched 22 home runs with a .927 OPS in 101 games.

The ‘Whoa’ Stat

For his major league career, Barker is 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts!

Per Baseball Reference, Barker changed teams (through minors, majors, and foreign leagues) 29 different times in his career.

Last but not least, it’s Joe Siddall’s turn in the spotlight.

Next: The former Expo, and Jerry Howarth's radio-mate