by STEVE HAN
The Los Angeles Dodgers has acquired second baseman Darwin Barney, who was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs last week. A Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner at second base in 2012, the Asian American ballplayer is expected to add depth to the Dodgers’ infield as a utility man.
The Dodgers will send a player to be named later, likely a minor leaguer, or cash considerations to the Cubs in exchange.
Barney has also played third baseman and shortstop in the last five seasons he spent with the Cubs. The Dodgers are thin on middle infielders behind starters Hanley Ramirez, Dee Gordon and Justin Turner, as bench player Chone Figgins is on the disabled list with a hip injury.
The 28-year-old is a standout defender at second base. His fielding percentage eclipsed the .990 mark in each of the last five seasons. His acrobatic defensive plays have made highlight reels several times over the years on local sports TV and ESPN’s SportsCenter.
Despite his defensive prowess, Barney has failed to impress as a hitter. His career batting average is just at .244 with 18 home runs. His struggles at the plate became worse this year as he is only hitting .230, but the Dodgers will remain hopeful that he can continue his moderately successful streak against National League opponents. He is hitting .273 average in 107 games against NL West opponents.
Barney, who identifies himself as one-quarter Korean, one-quarter Japanese and half-Caucasian, grew up in Beaverton, Oregon. His maternal grandmother is Korean, and his maternal grandfather is Japanese, though he once told an interviewer that he used to think he was Hawaiian. He talks about his background with interviewer Rick Quan in this 2011 video posted by Hyphen Magazine:
