| José Barrero | |
| Team: | Texas Rangers |
| Position: | Shortstop / Center fielder |
| Birth Date: | 5 April 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Havana, Cuba |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | August 27 |
| Debutyear: | 2020 |
| Debutteam: | Cincinnati Reds |
| Statyear: | 2023 season |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .186 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 4 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 32 |
| Teams: |
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José Israel Barrero (born José Israel García; April 5, 1998) is a Cuban professional baseball shortstop and outfielder in the Texas Rangers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds. He was known as José García before changing his name to José Barrero in 2021.
Barrero played for the Cuban national baseball team in the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup and in the Cuban National Series for the Industriales.[1] [2]
Barrero signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent on June 10, 2017.[3] He made his professional debut in 2018 with the Single–A Dayton Dragons, playing in 125 games and hitting .245 with 6 home runs and 53 RBI. Barrero played 2019 with the High–A Daytona Tortugas, appearing in 104 contests and batting .280/.343/.436 with 8 home runs, 55 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.[4] The Reds invited Barrero to Spring Training in 2020,[5] [6] but he was not immediately assigned to an affiliate after the minor league season was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
Barrero made his MLB debut on August 27, 2020, against the Milwaukee Brewers. He hit .194/.206/.194 with no home runs and two RBI in 24 games for Cincinnati in his rookie campaign.[8] Barrero began the 2021 season with the Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts, progressing to the Triple–A Louisville Bats later in the year. He appeared in 21 contests for the big–league club, hitting .200/.286/.320 with no home runs and three RBI.[9]
On March 20, 2022, it was announced that Barrero would miss at least six weeks with a hamate injury in his left hand/wrist.[10] He made his season debut on August 3. On August 6, Barrero hit his first major league home run off of Milwaukee Brewers starter Aaron Ashby. The two-run shot was part of a two-homer, 3 RBI game (the second homer coming off of Hoby Milner).[11] In 48 games for the Reds, he slashed .152/.195/.206 with two home runs and 10 RBI.
In 2023, Barrero played in 46 games for the Reds, batting .218/.295/.323 with 2 home runs and 17 RBI.[12] Prior to the 2024 season, it was announced that Barrero would begin working primarily as an outfielder.[13]
Barrero was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers on March 9, 2024.[14] On March 27, he was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Round Rock Express.[15]
On May 29, 2021, he changed his name from José García to José Barrero in honor of his mother, who died due to a COVID-19 related illness.[16]