A couple weeks ago I got a surprise envelope in the mail. The cards were from a consignment that finished roughly two years ago but was just now finding their way back to me in Hawaii. They were all players from the 2017 Cal Ripken League, a collegiate summer league. I don’t recognize most of the players, so its been neat to type in their names and figure out who is who.
Jacob Barnwell was the first card I pulled and was pleasantly surprised to find a professional baseball player.
Barwell struggled in the Cal Ripken league in 2017, hitting .214/.343/.299 with 1 HR. He had a much better 2018 campaign at Ohio State, hitting .261/.369/.346 with 2 HR. While none of these numbers are eye-popping, his real value is with the glove. At Ohio State, he was a very well regarded catcher, illustrated by his inclusion on the Johnny Bench Watch List to open the 2018 season. The Rockies took him in the 22nd round this past June.
He does not have to be a great hitter if his glove continues to hold up. He should have a nice career in the pros, and if his bat comes around he might very well move quickly.
