Former IU baseball left-handed pitcher Caleb Baragar solidified a spot on the San Francisco Giants’ 60-man roster for the 2020 season, the organization announced Wednesday. It will open the opportunity for Baragar’s first appearance in the majors.
Baragar became the sixth former Hoosier to make a big league roster so far this year. Kyle Schwarber and Josh Phegley of the Chicago Cubs are among the group to earn a bid.
Baragar spent his first two collegiate years playing at Jackson Community College in Jackson, Michigan. As a freshman, he whiffed 50 batters, racking up six wins and earning second team All-West Michigan Baseball League recognition.
One year later, after striking out 66 more and posting a 2.62 earned run average, Baragar was named first team All-Conference and All-Region. In April of that season, he tossed two no-hitters in a row, totaling 15 strikeouts during the span.
Baragar then transferred to IU for the 2015 season. He made 15 appearances, 12 of which were starts, in his lone season for the cream and crimson. Baragar was on the bump for 57 innings, the fourth most on the team, and was one of five pitchers with 50 strikeouts.
Following his 2015 campaign, Baragar was selected in the ninth round of the 2016 draft by the Giants.
Baragar has bounced around five minor league squads, while nearing 400 innings of work on the mound. In 2019, he started the season in single-A with the San Jose Giants before working his way to the organization’s double-A affiliate, the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
Baragar’s last stop of 2019 was in Triple-A with the Sacramento River Cats, where he was named an All-Star midway through the year. Then, he collected MVP in the Triple-A championship series after recording a 0.90 ERA over 10 innings.
In his minor league career, Baragar holds a 3.82 ERA with 354 strikeouts and a 18-20 overall record. After four seasons, Baragar will finally join the ranks in the Major Leagues this year.
The Giants are set to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on opening day July 23.
