Drafted in the 38th round (1,137th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2000.
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Few clubs gave Barton a serious look in the 2004 draft because of his academic background, but the Indians signed him as a nondrafted free agent for $100,000 plus another $100,000 in college funds after seeing him in the Cape Cod League. An aerospace engineering major who once interned at Boeing, Barton came into the Tribe system having to prove himself at every level, and broke out in 2006 by hitting .323 with 19 homers and 41 steals. But he quietly injured his right knee on Opening Day that season, and while he had no difficulty playing through it in 2006, the knee problems lingered last season. He wasn't as explosive and ultimately had surgery to clean up the knee in September while finishing his degree at Miami. Cleveland gambled by leaving Barton off its 40-man roster, and the Cardinals snatched him up for $50,000 in the major league Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings. They'll have to keep him on their big league roster throughout 2008 or place him on waivers and offer him back to the Indians for half his draft price. Barton had legitimate five-tool potential before his injury. The worst-case scenario is that he becomes just an average runner, and all his other tools grade out as future pluses. He can get a little stiff on his front side on pitches over the inner half of the plate, though that's his only weakness. His plate discipline slipped a bit in 2007 but should be fine. Barton has the ability to play all three outfield spots with above-average arm strength. He should be able to stick in St. Louis as a reserve and should challenge for an everyday job in 2009, if not sooner.
Barton scared off most teams before the 2004 draft because of his academic background, but the Indians were able to sign him as a nondrafted free agent after seeing him in the Cape Cod League. An aerospace engineering major at Miami who interned at Boeing, he turned pro for $100,000 with an additional $100,000 in college funds. In his second year as a pro, Barton made adjustments that allowed him to take more advantage of his natural power and speed. He got the load in his swing started earlier and worked hard to recognize offspeed pitches. His good instincts on the bases allow him to read pitchers, and he succeeded on 41 of 49 steal attempts. His plus speed also plays well in center field. Not only is he intelligent, he's mentally tough. Barton has trouble with balls in on his hands and his swing gets too long at times. He struggled against lefthanders after being promoted to Double-A, hitting just .219. Indians officials tried to move him back off the plate so he could better control the inner half. At 24, he's older than most prospects who haven't gotten past Double-A. Barton's power/speed combination makes him a potentially elite talent despite his age. He'll compete for a Triple-A job in a crowded outfield picture during spring training.
Minor League Top Prospects
Barton was unable to follow up on his breakout 2006 season, which included hitting .351 in 151 at-bats with Akron. His encore was solid, just less spectacular. Barton still has premium tools, such as plus speed and range in the outfield. His arm also has improved. The Indians have worked to alter his throwing mechanics, and his arm has improved a full grade to average while maintaining good accuracy. Barton's offensive approach has produced minor league results, but some scouts still question his swing, which is far from pure. One scout said he stayed inside the ball too much, precluding pull power. His .402 on-base percentage between Double-A and Triple-A this year was attributable in part to getting his by 30 pitches (the second-highest total in the minors), but that skill may not translate to the big league level.
Last season, when Barton got off to a slow start in the CL, a scout said, "He looks like Dave Winfield . . . from the neck up." While he does resemble the Hall of Famer, Barton reminded more scouts of Winfield for more than just his facial features in 2006. Barton has the rare combination of power (he led the league with a .515 slugging percentage) and speed that scouts dream of. He hit an opposite-field home run that caromed off the top of the scoreboard at Salem, a bomb that carried an estimated 500 feet away from home plate. Barton's swing tends to get long at times, but he has tremendous bat speed that generates good carry and loft to all fields. A truer comparison for Barton is Mike Cameron, another wiry strong outfielder with above-average speed and solid instincts. He has enough range and arm strength to stay in center. An aerospace-engineering major at Miami and a former intern at Boeing, Barton is an intelligent hitter who's still figuring out the nuances of the game.
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Rated Best Athlete in the Cleveland Guardians in 2007
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