Luis Rafael Barrera (born November 15, 1995) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics.
| Luis Barrera | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1995-11-15) November 15, 1995 (age 26) Tamboril, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 19, 2021, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
| Batting average | .235 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 7 |
| Teams | |
| |
Barrera signed as an international free agent by the Oakland Athletics in 2012 for a $450,000 signing bonus.[1][2] He opened the 2019 season back with Midland. He 2013 and 2014 with the Dominican Summer League Athletics, hitting .190/.292/.389/.681 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI in 2013 and .130/.216/.130/.346 with 3 RBI in 2014. He spent 2015 with the Arizona League Athletics, hitting .287/.344/.348/.692 with 0 home runs and 12 RBI.[2] He split the 2016 season between the Vermont Lake Monsters and the Beloit Snappers, combining to hit .310/.361/.428/.789 with 3 home runs and 22 RBI.[2] His 2017 season was split between Beloit and the Stockton Ports, accumulating a .263/.307/.390/.697 batting line with 7 home runs and 38 RBI.[2] He split 2018 between Stockton and the Midland RockHounds, combining to hit .297/.361/.426/.787 with 3 home runs and 64 RBI.[1] He played for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League during the 2018 offseason.[3]
The Athletics added him to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.[4] He spent the 2019 season back with Midland, hitting .321/.356/.513/.869 with 4 home runs and 24 RBI over 54 games. Barrera's season ended in late June after suffering multiple subluxation injuries during the year to his right shoulder.[2] On September 8, the Athletics placed him on the 60-day injured list, in order to clear a roster spot.[5]
Barrera did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
On May 18, 2021, Barrera was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[7] He made his MLB debut the next day as a pinch hitter for Ramón Laureano, striking out in his only at-bat. On May 27, Barrera was optioned down to Triple-A.[8]
On April 11, 2022, Barrera was designated for assignment by the Athletics.[9] On April 15, Barrera was sent outright to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.[10] On September 9, Barrera was designated for assignment by the Athletics.