PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – This past weekend it was announced that former California Winter League pitcher, Luke Barker, had his contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers. He had been pitching for the Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League after earning a contract with the club during his time at the CWL in 2016.
The 6-foot-4 righty had the stuff that the Brewers were looking for in a prospect, so they inked him to a deal and he will be starting in their organization this spring. Barker offers a low-to-mid 90’s fastball with two types of movement, a slider, a splitter, and a change. He is known for his excellent control, a likely reason the Brewers felt he was a safe prospect to target.
As previously mentioned, Barker got his opportunity with the Beach Bums of the Frontier League directly out of the 2016 CWL season. He posted a mid-3 ERA and had a 31:2 K:BB ratio in 19 innings at Palm Springs Stadium. Traverse City manager, Dan Rohn, was one of the instructors at the CWL last season and noticed Barker’s talent from the start, signing him to a deal to play professionally for the Beach Bums.
The product of Chico State took his opportunity and ran with it, striking out 83 batters in 62.1 innings with the Beach Bums, while leading the team in ERA with a mark of 1.44 for the season.
With his dominance at the CWL and then at the professional level in the Frontier League, it was only a matter of time before a major league club took a look at him.
We wish Barker great success within the Brewers’ organization, and we hope to see many more CWL players find their way to majors this upcoming season.
For more information on the California Winter League, email GM Pete Wagoner at [email protected].
