Jose Barrero is Down to His Last Shot With Cincinnati Reds

The veteran is entering a make-or-break season.

Jose Barrero will begin the 2024 Major League Baseball season at a crossroads that will determine his future with the Cincinnati Reds and possibly professional baseball.

Earlier this offseason, Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall included Barrero on a list of players the Reds would be counting on as the team tries to build a division winner in 2024.

A break down of the Reds roster as it is currently constructed shows Barrero as the last man on the Reds 26 man active roster, a mighty fall for the former No. 1 Reds prospect according to Baseball American.

The Reds signed the shortstop, then known as Jose Garcia. He would later change his name to Barrero to honor his grandmother, in 2017 as an armature free agent.

Barrero would spend the 2018 season in Single-A Dayton playing second base and shortstop. The young prospect would hit a respectable .245/.290/.344 is his inaugural professional season and earn a promotion to high A Daytona in 2019.

The 2019 season was a breakout year for the young prospect, as he climbed that rankings list and the leader board statically. Barrero would slash .280/.343/.436 for the Tortugas, paving the way for a likely promotion to Double-A Chattanooga in 2020.

A global pandemic in 2020 would have other plans for Barrero. The minor league system was completely shut down and Major League Baseball would scramble to piece together a shortened 60 game season.

Part of the protocols for that shortened season was allowing teams to create an alternated training site in case replacement players were needed. The Reds established their site at Prasco Park in Cincinnati and Barrero found himself selected as a player that would continue playing baseball at the alternate site.

During that 2020 season the Reds decided to bring Barrero to the active roster completing the jump to High-A Daytona to the big leagues.

It was quickly apparent that Barrero was in over his head. The rookie slashed .194/.206/.194 and saw his playing time dwindle as the Reds fought their way into a postseason appearance.

Barrero would return to the minor leagues in 2021 and perform well enough in time split between Double-A and Triple-A to earn another call up appearing in 21 games for the Reds that season.

In 2022, Barrero struggled in the majors slashing .152/.195/.206 cementing a return to Triple-A. He would return in 2023 for 46 games. Along the way the Reds asked Barrero to create some positional flexibility by learning to play centerfield. This decision may be what salvages Barrero’s career.

Heading into 2024 the Reds are in need of a right-handed outfield bat and someone to serve as a late inning replacement at multiple positions and make a spot start in the lineup when needed. Barraero, who is out of minor league options, could thrive in that role. It’s his last, best chance, for playing time on a talented Reds team.

Athleticism is the name of the game in today’s baseball and defensively Barrero has shown the ability to play well at third base, second base, and centerfield, in addition to his natural shortstop position.

For Barrero to stick for the entire year he will need to improve offensively, especially against left handed pitching in order to create playing time opportunities in the outfield. In his career Barrero has hit .202/.262/.284 in 76 games against lefties, numbers that will not be enough to see him start against lefties and platoon with the likes of Will Benson and Jake Fraley.

Barrero will need to demonstrate improved offensive ability during spring training in Goodyear, Arizona this year. If he can’t the 26th man could find himself designated for assignment prior to opening day, completing the fall of the Reds former top prospect. 

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