Jeremy

Barfield

Jesse Barfield, the former Blue Jays’ All-Star, was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released, authorities said. Jeremy Barfield, an outfielder, was drafted in the ninth round by the Mets this year, but he remains unsigned. He has signed a letter of intent to play with San Jacinto College.

The 25-year-old outfielder, and son of former major leaguer Jesse Barfield, began the transition halfway through the 2013 season. He worked in the instructional league then pitched a handful of games in the Dominican Winter League, and is now working at the team’s facility in Arizona. The A’s are hoping that the hard-throwing lefty can replicate the successful transition that Sean Doolittle has made, now one of the premiere relievers in the league.

Barfield, 28, has spent the last two seasons playing for the Sugar Land Skeeters and was batting .274/.357/.519 with nine homers over 35 games this season. He’ll provide organizational depth.

Barfield, another one of Jesse’s sons, was originally drafted by the Mets in the ninth round in 2006. He didn’t sign then, opting for a junior college instead. Now an A’s prospect, he’s hitting .359/.419/.667 with four homers in 11 games in the Midwest League. Previously something of a prospect as a pitcher, he has a very good arm in right field, and he doesn’t lack for power potential. Making contact consistently is likely to be a problem for him as he climbs the ladder.

The 29-year-old Barfield got his eyes fixed, found some extra power and hit 27 homers in just 92 games for Double-A Portland after being signed out of indy ball last May. It’d be quite the story if he could make the majors 10 years after the A’s drafted him, but he is a legitimate sleeper in the Red Sox’s eyes. He’ll open up in Triple-A.

Barfield got off to a dismal start with Triple-A Pawtucket (.132 AVG with 34 strikeouts in 91 at-bats) and refused an assignment to Double-A Portland. Drafted by the A’s as an eighth-round pick in 2008, Barfield has yet to crack the major leagues.

The 26-year-old spent the first seven seasons of his professional career in the Athletics organization, where he transitioned from the outfield to the mound primarily in 2014. A career .261/.332/.399 minor league hitter, he’ll shift back to the outfield with the Rockies where he’ll provide organizational depth.