Caleb Baragar

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Caleb Baragar

|team = Toros de Tijuana

|number = 57

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|4|9}}

|birth_place = Jenison, Michigan, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 25

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = San Francisco Giants

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2021 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 7–2

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 2.78

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 35

|teams =

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}})

}}

Caleb Baragar (born April 9, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He pitched in college baseball for Jackson College and Indiana University. Baragar was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the ninth round of the 2016 MLB draft, and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut for them in 2020.

Amateur career

Bargar attended Jenison High School, where he threw two no hitters. He pitched his first two collegiate seasons for Jackson College in 2013 and 2014. He transferred to Indiana University for his final two years, in 2015 and 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.idsnews.com/article/2020/07/former-iu-pitcher-caleb-baragar-earns-san-francisco-giants-roster-spot |title=Former IU pitcher Caleb Baragar earns San Francisco Giants roster spot |first=Tyler |last=Tachman |date=July 9, 2020 |work=Indiana Daily Student}}

Baragar was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the ninth round (275th overall) of the 2016 MLB draft.

Professional career

=San Francisco Giants=

After spending parts of four seasons in the minor leagues, in which he was 18–20 with a 3.82 ERA, and being named a 2019 Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star, Baragar was invited to spring training for the Giants in 2020. Baragar made the Giants' 2020 Opening Day roster and his contract was selected to the 40-man roster.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/New-Giants-lefty-Caleb-Baragar-credits-15429944.php |title=New Giants lefty Caleb Baragar credits analytics-inspired change for rapid rise |first=Henry |last=Schulman |date=July 23, 2020 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/caleb-baragar-makes-giants-opening-day-roster |title=Analytics help Baragar ascend to Majors |first=Maria |last=Guardado |date=July 23, 2020 |work=MLB.com}}

He made his MLB debut on July 25, 2020, earning the win after pitching two scoreless innings in relief against the Los Angeles Dodgers.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2020/07/jenisons-caleb-baragar-earns-victory-in-major-league-debut.html |title=Jenison's Caleb Baragar earns victory in Major League debut |first=Steve |last=Kaminski |date=July 25, 2020 |publisher=mlive.com}}

In 2020 he was 5–1 with a 4.03 ERA, pitching {{fraction|22|1|3}} innings in 24 games (one start).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baragca01.shtml|title=Caleb Baragar Stats|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He was second in the NL in win–loss percentage (.833; behind Max Fried).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2020-pitching-leaders.shtml|title=2020 National League Pitching Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

In the 2021 regular season with the Giants, he was 2–1 with 2 saves and a 1.57 ERA. He pitched in 25 games, pitching 23 innings in relief. With the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, he was 3–3 with an 8.46 ERA, pitching 22.1 innings in 22 games (one start).{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=barage000cal|title=Caleb Baragar Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He was designated for assignment on March 14, 2022, to create room on the roster for free agent signing Carlos Rodon.

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On March 21, 2022, Baragar was claimed off of waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/diamondbacks-claim-caleb-baragar-waivers-giants.html |title=Diamondbacks Claim Caleb Baragar |first=Steve |last=Adams |date=March 21, 2022 |publisher=mlbtraderumors.com}} He was designated for assignment on April 5, following the promotion of Óliver Pérez.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks To Select Oliver Perez, Designate Caleb Baragar|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/diamondbacks-select-oliver-perez-dfa-caleb-baragar.html|access-date=August 4, 2023|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 6, 2022 |language=en}} On April 10, Baragar was outrighted to the Triple-A Reno Aces.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/diamondbacks-place-luke-weaver-on-10-day-il.html |title=Diamondbacks Place Luke Weaver On 10-Day IL |website=MLB Trade Rumors |accessdate=April 10, 2022|date=April 10, 2022|last=Polishuk|first=Mark}} In 43 games for Reno, he posted a 5.51 ERA with 50 strikeouts in {{fraction|47|1|3}} innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=August 4, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}

=Cleveland Guardians=

On December 22, 2022, Baragar signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Guardians.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/guardians-sign-caleb-baragar-caleb-simpson-to-minor-league-deals.html | title=Guardians Sign Caleb Baragar, Caleb Simpson to Minor League Deals | date=December 22, 2022 }} The deal includes an invitation to the Guardians' 2023 major league spring training camp. In 23 games for the Triple–A Columbus Clippers, he struggled to a 6.54 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 2 saves across {{fraction|31|2|3}} innings pitched. On August 3, 2023, Baragar was released by the Guardians organization.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-08-03/p-1 | title=Transactions }}

=Lancaster Stormers=

On April 15, 2024, Baragar signed with the Lancaster Stormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=2024 Transactions|url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/|access-date=April 16, 2024|website=atlanticleague.com|language=en}} He appeared in 3 games, all starts, and pitched to a 2.25 ERA with 18 strikeouts.{{Cite web|title=Caleb Baragar Amateur, College, Minor and Independent League Statistics|url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=barage000cal|access-date=May 10, 2024|website=baseballreference.com|language=en}}

=Minnesota Twins=

On May 10, 2024, Baragar’s contract was purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization.{{Cite web|title=Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs - Transactions|url= http://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=33927|access-date=May 10, 2024|website=baseball.pointstreak.com|language=en}} In 16 games (4 starts) for the Triple–A St. Paul Saints, he logged a 2–3 record and 5.96 ERA with 26 strikeouts across {{fraction|25|2|3}} innings pitched. Baragar was released by the Twins organization on September 12.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-09-12

=Toros de Tijuana=

On February 11, 2025, Baragar signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=Tecos: Se perfila el zurdo Caleb Baragar como abridor de los Dos Laredos|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/tecos-se-perfila-el-zurdo-caleb-baragar-como-abridor-de-los-dos-laredos|access-date=February 12, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}} He was released by the Tecolotes prior to the start of the season on April 14.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 14 de abril de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-14-de-abril-de-2025|access-date=May 13, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}

On April 29, 2025, Baragar signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 29 de abril de 2025|url=https://lmb.com.mx/noticias/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-29-de-abril-de-2025|access-date=May 13, 2025|website=lmb.com.mx|language=es}}