Luis

Barrera

Barrera was a notable prospect a few years ago with the Athletics, but never quite found a home in the majors. The 27-year-old outfielder signed a minor league contract last December with the Angels and has been cut loose after appearing in 19 spring training contests.

Barrera, 27, hit .234/.294/.338 in 85 plate appearances last year with the A’s before being designated for assignment. He provides emergency depth for the Angels in 2023.

Barrera was one of the better prospects in the Athletics’ system just a few years ago. The 26-year-old outfielder will search for a new opportunity this offseason after appearing in just 38 games over the last two years in Oakland. He’s hit .235/.290/.329 with one home run and three stolen bases across 93 plate appearances at the major-league level.

Barrera had been designated for assignment on Friday to clear a spot on the club’s 40-man roster for Conner Capel who was claimed off of waivers from the Cardinals. The 26-year-old hit just .234/.294/.338 with one home run, seven RBI and three swipes in 85 plate appearances with the A’s. He’ll continue to serve as additional outfield depth at Triple-A.

The A’s needed to free up a spot on the 40-man roster after claiming Conner Capel off of waivers from the Cardinals and it looks like Barrera drew the short straw this time around. Barrera hit just .234/.294/.338 with one homer, seven RBI and three stolen bases in 85 plate appearances with the A’s this season. There’s a chance that he could pique another club’s interest on waivers.

Barrera has a .632 OPS in 32 games for the A’s this season. The club has not yet announced a corresponding move.

Barrera hit a soft single off of Brady Singer in the bottom of the fifth, and singled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. The 26-year-old outfielder is 18-for-77 (.234) with a home run and three stolen bases to begin the year.

All three hits were singles, with his final one driving in a run in the eighth inning. It’s the first three-hit game in the brief major league career of Barrera, who was removed from the 40-man roster last month before finding his way back on it. He’s been playing regularly against righties of late.

The 26-year-old outfielder played the role of hero in the first game of the day with a three-run walk-off homer off of Raisel Iglesias in his only at-bat. He carried over that good feeling to the nightcap, smacking a pair of singles and drawing a walk to reach safely in each of his three plate appearances. He’s now slashing .364/.467/.636 with a homer, four RBI and a stolen base through his first 15 plate appearances.

It’s hard to imagine a more electric first career home run. In his first and only at-bat of the game, Barrera hit a 395-foot three-run home run over the right-field wall, winning the game for the Athletics in the bottom of the ninth. The 26-year-old outfielder should continue to receive occasional starts in the outfield.