Brian Barden

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Brian Barden

| image = Brian Barden on February 13, 2012.jpg

| caption = Barden with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp

| image_size = 220

| position = Infielder

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|04|02}}

| birth_place = Templeton, California, U.S.

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 3

| debutyear = 2007

| debutteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

| debut2league = NPB

| debut2date = August 2

| debut2year = 2011

| debut2team = Hiroshima Toyo Carp

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = July 2

| finalyear = 2010

| finalteam = Florida Marlins

| final2league = NPB

| final2date = October 25

| final2year = 2011

| final2team = Hiroshima Toyo Carp

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .211

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 4

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 14

| stat2league = NPB

| stat21label = Batting average

| stat21value = .281

| stat22label = Home runs

| stat22value = 3

| stat23label = Runs batted in

| stat23value = 20

| teams =

Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2007}})
St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2007}}–{{mlby|2009}})
Florida Marlins ({{mlby|2010}})
Hiroshima Toyo Carp ({{npby|2011}})

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}

}}

Brian David Barden (born April 2, 1981) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals, and Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB), and for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Early life

Barden attended St. Augustine High School in San Diego's North Park neighborhood and Oregon State University.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=barden001bri|title=Brian Barden Register Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=November 28, 2016}} In 2001, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |access-date=January 9, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2001&T=Brewster_Whitecaps |title=2001 Brewster Whitecaps |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}

Professional career

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

Barden was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut with the Diamondbacks on April 3, 2007, against the Colorado Rockies, grounding out as a pinch hitter. His first hit was a single to center field off Shawn Hill of the Washington Nationals on April 8. That was his only hit in 6 at-bats for the Diamondbacks in the 8 games he played for them in 2007, with the rest of his time being spent with the AAA Tucson Sidewinders.

=St. Louis Cardinals=

He was selected off waivers by St. Louis Cardinals on August 13, 2007.{{cite web |url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Brian%20Barden&pos=SS&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=449471 |title=Official Website of Minor League Baseball |access-date=2008-06-15 |archive-date=2011-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519145159/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Brian%20Barden&pos=SS&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=449471 |url-status=dead }}[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bardebr01.shtml#trans Signed off waivers]

Barden was batting .295 with nine home runs and 35 RBI for the Cardinals' Triple-A Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, when his season was ended as the result of being named to the {{Baseball year|2008}} USA Olympic Baseball Team.{{cite web |url=http://www.usabaseball.com/teams/index.jsp?team=940 |title=Official Website of 2008 USA Olympic Baseball Team |access-date=2008-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707050050/http://www.usabaseball.com/teams/index.jsp?team=940 |archive-date=2008-07-07 |url-status=dead }}

On May 5, 2009, he was named NL Rookie of the Month for April.{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090505&content_id=4572560&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl |title=Barden named NL Rookie of the Month: Versatile infielder ends April with .641 slugging percentage |work=MLB.com |date=2009-05-05}}

=Florida Marlins=

On December 14, 2009, Barden signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins. He was added to the Major League roster on April 3, but designated for assignment on July 3, 2010.

=Texas Rangers=

For the 2011 season, he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and played for the AAA Round Rock Express before opting out on July 1.{{cite web |last=Mennella |first=Dan |title=Brian Barden Opts Out Of Contract |url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/07/brian-barden-opts-out-of-contract.html |work=MLBTradeRumors.com |date=July 2011 |access-date=2 July 2011}}

=Hiroshima Toyo Carp=

Brian signed a 1-year contract with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball on July 18, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Sp201107180146.html |title=Hiroshima signs foreign infielder, given number 35 |publisher=www.chugoku-np.co.jp |date=2011-07-18}} He played in 64 games and hit .281.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 5, 2013, and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. He played in 123 games and hit .277, while playing primarily third base.

=Piratas de Campeche=

On April 1, 2014, Barden signed with the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican Baseball League. He was released on April 14, 2014.

=Leones de Yucatan=

On March 31, 2014, Barden signed with the Leones de Yucatan of the Mexican Baseball League. He was released on May 29, 2014.

=Somerset Patriots=

On June 10, 2014, Barden signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He became a free agent after the 2014 season.