Cincinnati Reds Tucker Barnhart gets a ballfield named after him

When Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart returned to Indiana this off-season, they named a ball field after him.

Tucker Barnhart has been part of the Cincinnati Reds Caravan several times already. Each year it seems to have more fans in attendance. He could be part of the reason, as he is from Brownsburg, Indiana, and just won a Gold Glove.

The Reds Caravan stopped in Indianapolis, Muncie, and Brownsburg on the west swing. These are all places that Barnhart is familiar with. The people of Brownsburg are familiar with Great American Ballpark thanks to its proximity.

This off-season, the Reds Community Fund announced that they will build a new youth baseball complex in Brownsburg. Part of the announcement was that one of the diamonds would include the Tucker Barnhart Field. They didn’t tell Barnhart about this until he heard announcement during the ceremony in Brownsburg.

Barnhart won the National Gold Glove at catcher this off-season. He also welcomed his first child during the season. Even with all of the changes, Barnhart is prepared to be even better in 2018.

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He signed a contract extension at the end of the season, making him the starting catcher. Between the Gold Glove and the contract extension, there is no doubt who is the leader on the catching staff. All of the pressure is squarely on Barnhart.

Tucker Barnhart is the sort of developmental win that the Cincinnati Reds so desperately need.

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The Reds drafted Barnhart of out Brownsburg high school in the 2009 draft. He was their tenth round pick. As a high school draftee, he was only eighteen when the Reds drafted him.

Barnhart spent six years in the minors for the Reds. He batted .260 with an OBP of .341 over the course of 427 minor league games. He only hit thirteen home runs during that time.

Barnhart just finished his third full season with the big league club. He has had similar batting success in the majors.

Barnhart is a career .257 batter with an OBP of .328 in 338 major league games.

However, he has also had better success driving the ball out of the park. In 89 fewer games Barnhart has five more home runs in the majors. Of course Barnhart also has an NL Gold Glove to go with the homers.

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The Reds also know that they have something very special in Barnhart. So do the people of Brownsburg, Indiana. Hopefully, however, the best is yet to come for Barnhart and the Reds.

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