Glen Barker

Who is Glen Barker?

Glen F. Barker is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros. He was a leadoff hitter with great defensive skills and was used mainly as a pinch runner. He has the rare distinction of having more major league career runs scored than hits. Barker is also one of only seven players to have had more career games appearances than plate appearances. He currently serves as a scout for the Astros.

Barker attended Albany High School and the College of St. Rose, an NCAA Division II school in one of the only college conferences to use wood bats throughout the leagues' season.

Barker was selected by Detroit Tigers in 11th Round of 1993 amateur entry draft. Known for his speed on the basepaths and in center field, Barker advanced as far as Triple A with the Toledo Mudhens, but was selected by the Astros from Tigers in the 1998 MLB Rule 5 draft. Per Rule 5, he spent the 1999 season on the Astros' roster. He was successful in very limited playing time, used mostly as a pinch runner and sometimes as a pinch hitter Barker hit .288 stole 17 bases that season. Barker appeared in 2 games against Atlanta in the NLDS, stealing a base and scoring a run.