WW-P grad signs on as pitcher for major league team
By: Bob Nuse
When Kevin Barry made the decision not to sign with the Oakland A’s last year, opting instead to finish his career at Rider University, there was always some lingering doubt.
A year later, Barry has no doubt he made the right decision.
After being selected by Oakland in the 15th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Barry chose not to sign. He took a bit of a chance and went back to Rider, where he had a standout senior season and also earned his degree in business.
Last week, the West Windsor-Plainsboro High graduate was selected in the 14th round of the 2001 draft by the Atlanta Braves. He signed a contract with the team Friday and left Monday for Jamestown, N.Y., where he will play for the Braves short-season Single-A team, the Jammers.
"I definitely have no regrets about last year," Barry said Monday before departing for upstate New York. "I’ve always had two goals for myself. One was to play professional baseball and the second one was to get my college degree.
"The second one was done mainly for my mom’s satisfaction. She gave up a lot for us. She grew up on a farm around here and never had an opportunity to go to college. She raised my sister and I from the time we were 12 years old. She worked two part-time jobs and a full-time job. She really wanted to see me get my degree. I really have to thank her for all she’s done."
Now Barry has that degree, as well as his pro baseball career, which begins June 19 at home against the Brooklyn Cyclones. His decision turned out to be the right one.
"It was definitely in the back of my mind at times whether or not I made the right decision," said Barry, who, by playing for a National League organization, may have the opportunity to hit for the first time since he played American Legion baseball. "I could go out next week and something could happen to my arm. Or I could have gotten hurt during the past season at Rider. But everything worked out and I’m real happy."
He’ll join the Jammers today and expects to be in the starting rotation when the season starts next week. Being part of the Braves organization is something Barry is certainly looking forward to.
"From a pitching standpoint, they’re the best organization in the country," he said. "It’s a thrill to be a part of the organization. The team opens up with a four-game series and they’ve said I’ll probably start the third or fourth game. I’m looking forward to it."
By playing in the New York-Penn League, Barry will also have the opportunity to play some games relatively close to home. While Jamestown is a seven-hour ride from his West Windsor home, the team will play several teams within a manageable ride. Among the teams the Jammers will play are the New Jersey Cardinals, who play in Sussex County, and the Brooklyn Cyclones, who play at Coney Island Stadium.
For Barry, this is the latest step in a journey he hopes will eventually land him in the major leagues.
"They say that if you can hang around for four years, then you’ve got a shot at an opportunity to play at the Major League level," said Barry, who while at Rider set the school record for career strikeouts, while also becoming one of just six pitchers to post 20 or more career wins. "They’ve said the organization is one that if you keep producing, they’ll move you along to the next point. So from that standpoint, I’m excited."
For Barry, the journey started in West Windsor, playing Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball. It continued at Rider, where he just kept on learning.
"I’ve come across a lot of people who have really helped me over the years," said Barry, who was 5-3 with a 3.46 earned run average this spring at Rider. "It really helped me to have Rick Freeman as a coach at Rider. I had played against him for four years in Legion ball, and people had always told me what a great coach he was. I got a chance to experience that and he really helped me."
Barry begins the next step of his journey in Jamestown. He’s excited about the opportunity, although he’ll leave behind some very supportive followers.
"I’ve always gotten a lot of support from people," Barry said. "I’ve worked at the rec sports camp every summer since I was in eighth grade. I got to know a lot of the kids and they’ve always been supportive."
Down the line, he hopes to give them something to cheer about.