Brian Barton Signs Contract

Outfielder Brian Barton, Infielder Renny Osuna and Infielder Kody Hightower Are Newest Additions to 2013 Roster

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs manager Patrick Osborn continued to fill-in the 2013 roster, as he announced three more additions to the team today. Outfielder Brian Barton will rejoin the team this season, while infielders Renny Osuna and Kody Hightower will play their first season with Southern Maryland in 2013.

Barton, 30, will return to the Blue Crabs for a second straight year after finishing third on the team and 12th in the Atlantic League in batting average (.309) during the 2012 season. The six-foot-three, 190-pound Barton also finished among the top three for Southern Maryland in games played (130), runs (66), hits (153), triples (6), RBIs (60) and stolen bases (23), as well as owning the highest batting average (.375) for the Blue Crabs during their 2012 playoff run.

Before coming to Southern Maryland, Barton spent a majority of his career playing Triple-A ball as part of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta braves farm organizations. Barton also appeared in 83 games for the Cardinals and Braves as a utility outfielder with a .268 average, 23 runs, 41 hits, 13 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs from 2008-09.

The Los Angeles, Calif. native was originally signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent in 2005 and made his major league debut on April 1, 2008 for the Cardinals. Barton last appeared in a major league uniform for Atlanta on June 3, 2009.


(smnewsnet.com)