Joshua LaRoy Barfield (born December 17, 1982) is an American professional baseball executive and former second baseman. He is the son of former major league outfielderJesse Barfield. Barfield was born in Venezuela during his mother's two-week winterball visit with his father.[1] He attended Klein High School, located near Houston, Texas,[1] and holds the District 5 single season home run record.
On September 4, 2006, against the Rockies in Petco Park, Barfield hit a walk-off home run, a three-run home run off Brian Fuentes that gave the Padres a 7–5 victory. He claimed that he had not hit a walk-off home run at any level of baseball prior to that.[8]
Barfield played in 150 games during his rookie season with the Padres, batting .280 with 32 doubles, 13 home runs, 58 RBI and 21 stolen bases (in 26 attempts).[9] In the 2006 National League Division Series, he batted .250 with a double and walk as the Padres lost in four games to the St. Louis Cardinals.[9]
Barfield began the 2007 season as the Indians everyday second baseman, but in August, after poor hitting, he began to lose starts to Asdrúbal Cabrera.[11] He finished 2007 with a .243 batting average, three home runs, and 50 RBI in 130 games.[9] Barfield made one appearance in the 2007 postseason, stealing a base in Game 2 of the 2007 American League Championship Series.[12]
Barfield entered spring training in 2008 as a utility player hopeful, but was ultimately optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on March 25.[13] He was called up by Cleveland on June 9 to replace Cabrera, who was hitting a team low .184. At the time of his call-up, Barfield had an average of .255 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 62 games for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[14] In his second game after being called up, he sprained a finger and was placed on the disabled list on June 12.[15] He was activated on September 1, and spent the remainder of the season in the majors.[16] He batted .182 with 2 RBI in 12 games with Cleveland.[9]
On March 28, 2009, it was announced that Barfield had made the Indians' Opening Day roster as a utility player.[17] He was optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on April 15.[18] Barfield was recalled again on May 2,[19] and immediately made an impact in his first game back, hitting a go-ahead single in the 12th inning of a 9–7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on May 4.[20] Despite going a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI in his at bats, he was optioned back to Columbus on May 12 to make room on the roster for Jamey Carroll.[21] On June 3, Barfield was recalled again when Asdrúbal Cabrera went down with a sprained shoulder.[22] He was optioned to Columbus again on June 29,[23] and was later removed from Cleveland's 40-man roster on August 11.[24] He batted .400 with 2 RBI in 17 games with Cleveland.[9]
Second stint with Padres
On February 19, 2010, Barfield signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres with an invite to spring training.[25] He spent the entire season with the Triple-A Portland Beavers, batting .296 with five home runs and 36 RBI in 78 games.[26]
On March 21, 2012, Barfield signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.[28] He was released on April 29 after going 0-for-8 with a walk and three strikeouts in four games with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.[29] The Orioles re-signed him to another minor league deal on May 21,[30] and he was assigned to the Double-A Bowie Baysox, where he batted .267 with a home run and 30 RBI in 80 games.[26]
As of 2016, Barfield was listed as a professional scout, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the Arizona Diamondbacks. For four years, Barfield was the director of player development for the Diamondbacks. In September 2023, he was hired as assistant general manager for the Chicago White Sox.[32]
