CORVALLIS, Ore. – Former Oregon State players Brian Barden and Jamie Burke opened the baseball season on major league rosters Monday, Barden with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Burke with the Seattle Mariners. Barden, an infielder, played third base for OSU from 2000-02 while Burke, a catcher, played third base for the Beavers in 1992-93 and was also a placekicker on the football team.
Barden is on a major league roster for the first time; when he makes his major league debut, he will become the 17th former Oregon State player to appear in the major leagues. Last season, Barden played for the Diamondbacks’ Class AAA team in Tucson and batted .298 with 16 home runs and 96 runs batted in.
Burke is with his third major league team, having played for the Anaheim Angels in 2001 and the Chicago White Sox from 2003-05. Last season, playing for the Texas Rangers’ Class AAA team in Oklahoma, Burke batted .278 with 10 home runs and 49 runs batted in.
A host of other former OSU players are awaiting final assignment to minor league rosters; the season for most minor league teams begins later this week.
