BATON ROUGE — Outfielder Sean Barker was promoted to the Colorado Rockies this week, becoming the 11th former LSU player to be activated at the major league level this season.
LSU has had at least one former player make his MLB debut in each of the past 17 seasons (1991-2007).
Barker, 27, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., transferred to LSU prior to the 2001 season from Bakersfield Community College.
Barker batted .372 (129-for-347) in two seasons (2001-02) at LSU with 23 doubles, one triple, 11 homers, 78 RBI and 28 stolen bases. He appeared in 104 games (87 starts) and helped lead the Tigers to two NCAA Super Regional berths.
Barker was the Rockies’ sixth-round selection in the 2002 MLB draft.
Barker takes Steve Finley’s spot on the Rockies roster, and he’ll be used primarily off the bench. Barker said he is ready to heed Rockies manager Clint Hurdle’s advice in adapting to his new role.
“He just said, ‘Be ready to play at any time, we might use you here and there and just be ready. It might be a little different from what you’re used to, but just go out there and play,’” Barker said.
Barker batted .333 this season for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox with five home runs, 17 doubles, two triples and 30 RBI. He left Triple-A with an eight-game hitting streak intact.
“He’s been playing well, he plays all three outfield positions, and he’s got some useable speed on the bases,” Hurdle said. “He was the best player to call up at the time. He was performing better than anybody at the time. Give him this opportunity and see where it takes us.”
Barker attributes his hot hitting to “seeing the ball well,” and hoped that things could only get better with the better playing conditions in the big leagues.
“I’ve always been accustomed to playing almost every day, rotating in and out with guys,” Barker pointed out. “It’ll be something new, but it’ll be a good learning experience. If I go about my same routine and take batting practice the way I have been and take care of what needs to be done, I think I’ll be ready to go in there when called upon.”
Ten other ex-LSU players have seen MLB action this season, including pitchers Paul Byrd (Cleveland Indians), Russ Springer (St. Louis Cardinals), Randy Keisler (St. Louis Cardinals) and Brian Tallet (Toronto Blue Jays); infielders Todd Walker (Oakland Athletics), Aaron Hill (Toronto Blue Jays), Ryan Theriot (Chicago Cubs) and Mike Fontenot (Chicago Cubs); and outfielders Brad Hawpe (Colorado Rockies) and Todd Linden (San Francisco Giants/Florida Marlins).
LSU has produced 55 major league baseball players in its history, including 41 since 1985.