Austin Barnes Bio
Austin Scott Barnes is an American professional baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. He spent the bulk of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, helping that franchise capture World Series championships in 2020 and 2024. A graduate of Arizona State University, Barnes was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 2011 MLB Draft and reached the majors with the Dodgers in 2015. He has also represented the Mexico national baseball team in international competition.
Early Life and Background
Austin Scott Barnes was born on December 28, 1989, in Riverside, California, the oldest of four children born to Dennis and Stephanie Barnes. Although his mother is Mexican-American, Barnes was raised speaking only English. He comes from a baseball family; his maternal uncle, Mike Gallego, played in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics. Barnes began playing baseball at a young age in Little League as a shortstop, where his sure hands earned him the nickname “Hoover” for his ability to vacuum up ground balls.
Barnes attended Riverside Polytechnic High School, where he played on the same varsity baseball team as future Houston Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick. He earned four varsity letters and served as team captain during his senior year. As a junior in 2007, Barnes hit .450, and he improved to .478 as a senior. Outside of high school, he played travel and summer-league baseball, including a team that competed in the American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) Don Mattingly Championship.
Path to Baseball
After graduating from Riverside Poly, Barnes enrolled at Arizona State University to play college baseball for the Sun Devils. He appeared in 20 games during his freshman season, mostly as a catcher and second baseman, and posted a .412 average in limited at-bats. Things changed in his sophomore year when injuries to catchers Xorge Carrillo and Andrew Pollak pushed him behind the plate. Barnes adapted quickly, throwing out 19 of the first 24 baserunners who tried to steal, and finished the year with a .272 average and a .985 fielding percentage. He also played summer-league baseball in 2010 for the St. Cloud River Bats of the Northwoods League.
During his junior season at Arizona State, Barnes chose to remain the team’s everyday catcher instead of returning to the infield. He hit his first home run of the year on March 27, 2011, in an 8-1 victory over Arizona. He started 41 of 43 games, posted a .994 fielding percentage, batted .320, scored 27 runs, and drove in 15 runs. His strong season earned him a place on the All-Pac-10 First Team, setting the stage for his professional career.
Austin Barnes Career
Miami Marlins (2011–2014)
The Miami Marlins selected Barnes in the 2011 MLB Draft, and he made his professional debut that year with the Low-A Jamestown Jammers of the New York–Penn League. He quickly established himself as a passionate catcher and capable hitter. From 2012 through 2014, Barnes climbed the minor-league ladder, playing for the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads, and the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. He split time between catcher and second base while refining his defensive skills and bat control.
Los Angeles Dodgers Breakthrough (2015–2020)
On December 10, 2014, Barnes was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a multi-player deal. After a brief stint with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, he was called up to the majors on May 23, 2015, when Yasmani Grandal went on the disabled list. Barnes made his MLB debut the next day as the starting catcher, wearing number 65, and recorded his first major-league hit, a single to center off Dale Thayer of the San Diego Padres. He split the rest of the year between Oklahoma City and Los Angeles, hitting .315 in Triple-A and earning several minor-league All-Star honors.
Barnes bounced between the majors and Triple-A in 2016 and made the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster as the backup catcher in 2017. That June, he slugged his first multi-homer game, including his first career grand slam, and set a personal best with seven RBIs against the San Diego Padres. He moved into a platoon role with Grandal and then took over as the starting catcher in the playoffs, hitting a home run in the National League Division Series (NLDS) sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks. An elite pitch framer, Barnes ranked among the league’s best at the position and posted a .993 fielding percentage in 2018.
After Grandal left in free agency, Barnes was named the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter in 2019, but a slow start sent him back to Oklahoma City in late July. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in 29 games and hit .244/.353/.314. In the 2020 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Barnes hit a home run and delivered a safety squeeze in Game 3, becoming only the second player in history to accomplish both in the same World Series game. He was behind the plate when Julio Urías recorded the final out to clinch the Dodgers’ first World Series title since 1988.
Los Angeles Dodgers Continued (2021–2025)
Barnes signed a two-year, $4.3 million contract in February 2021 and remained the backup behind Will Smith, appearing in 77 games. In July 2022, he and the Dodgers agreed to a two-year, $7 million extension. He posted a .212 average with eight homers in 2022, hit .180 in 2023, and bounced back to .264 in 54 games in 2024 while serving as a veteran reserve during the Dodgers’ run to the 2024 World Series championship. The team exercised his $3.25 million option for 2025, but Barnes appeared in only 13 games before being designated for assignment on May 14, 2025, and released on May 20.
Driving Style and Strengths
Barnes built his reputation on elite pitch-framing and a calm, cerebral approach behind the plate. He ranked among MLB’s top catchers in framing and defensive metrics, allowing very few passed balls while earning the trust of a deep Dodgers pitching staff. Coaches valued his game-calling and his willingness to handle a wide range of roles, from everyday starter to late-inning defensive replacement.
Notable Events and Milestones
Barnes’ signature October moment came in Game 3 of the 2020 World Series, when his home run and safety squeeze made him only the second player in history to record both in a single Fall Classic game. He also caught the final out of that championship-clinching victory and went on to earn a second World Series ring with the Dodgers in 2024.
Austin Barnes Career Wins
Austin Scott Barnes’ two World Series championships with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and 2024 stand as the most prominent victories of his major-league career. He appeared in multiple National League Division Series, League Championship Series, and World Series matchups between 2016 and 2024.
World Series Highlights
Barnes was a member of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series-winning team that defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games, and he caught the final out of the clincher. In 2024, he was active for the entire postseason run and earned his second World Series ring when the Dodgers won the title. He also played in the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros and the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox.
Other Wins and Performances
Barnes was part of several National League West division titles during his Dodgers tenure and contributed to playoff pushes with timely hits and steady defense. He also represented the Mexico national baseball team in international competition.
Austin Barnes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Austin Scott Barnes is the oldest of four children of Dennis and Stephanie Barnes. His maternal uncle, Mike Gallego, played in Major League Baseball as an infielder for the Oakland Athletics, giving the family a clear baseball lineage. His younger brother, Griffin, played catcher at Grand Canyon University and signed with the Los Angeles Angels.
Personal Life
Austin Scott Barnes married Nicole Breanna Rappaport in 2018, and the couple lives in Glendale, California, near Dodger Stadium. They have one son. Barnes enjoys playing golf in his free time, and his childhood nickname “Hoover” has since been replaced by “Barnsey.” He also picked up the nickname “Sam” from longtime teammate Chase Utley.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Barnes on the Dodgers’ roster after the club picked up his $3.5 million option. He appeared in 13 games for Los Angeles, batting .214/.233/.286 with two RBI, before being designated for assignment on May 14, 2025, and released on May 20. Looking for a fresh opportunity, Barnes signed a minor-league deal with the San Francisco Giants on June 29, 2025. He split time between the Arizona Complex League Giants and the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, going 8-for-39 with two RBI in 13 appearances, before being released by the organization on August 1.