TACOMA, Wash. — He started 2024 as a Lute. Then he was a Merchant. And finally a Pickle, winning a West Coast League title…
That's the journey Pacific Lutheran University baseball second baseman
Aaron Barber had on the diamond over a six-month stretch, starting on campus where he was named First Team All-Northwest Conference and continuing over the summer months— playing summer collegiate baseball for both the Pacific International League's Everett Merchants and the West Coast League's Portland Pickles.
During that stretch Barber also walked across the stage of Olson Gymnasium, earning his bachelor's degree. He will be back at his familiar spot at second base this spring as a graduate student enrolled in PLU's Masters of Business Administration program.
Barber was instrumental in the Pickles' run towards the end of the year as they walked off the Wenatchee AppleSox 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth in dramatic fashion. It was a game the Seattle native went two-for-three with a run scored.
Barber joined the Pickles in August after playing for the Everett Merchants alongside PLU teammates
Rutger Youch and
Jaden Pieper. His performance in the PIL with the Merchants caught the attention of the Pickles, allowing Barber to join one of the top college summer leagues in the country. His team, the Portland Pickles, have one of the best followings in baseball, boasting an impressive 60,000 followers on instagram and 50,000 on X (formerly Twitter). The team is known for their entertaining acts during games, unique game promos, and raucous crowds.
"Usually, players stay with host families, but luckily for me, I got to stay with my best friend Ben Patacsil who played baseball at the University of Portland. I'm grateful for him letting me sleep on his couch but some nights I definitely missed sleeping in my own bed," said Barber.
Barber did not play much in the first few games with the team but in his first home game with the Pickles he solidified his spot as he walked it off in the 10th.
"With two strikes I got a pitch at or above my eye level and lined it into left-center field. When I hit the ball and started running the bases I blacked out until all my teammates embraced me around second base."
"I pointed towards my family who was in left field. I looked up to the sky knowing that Bill Stubbs who had just passed away before I left to play for the Pickles who was my infield and hitting coach and one of my biggest believers in life."
His walk-off helped propel the Pickles to a league-leading 40-14 regular season record. The Pickles stormed through the playoffs knocking off the Corvallis Knights in the Semi-Finals. That win marked the end of the Knight's seven-year WCL championship run.
"The championship game was no walk in the park. Over 5,000 loyal and rowdy Portland Pickles fans supporting you is an awesome feeling. I ended up getting two hits and scoring a run. The bottom of the 9th to walk off the championship game was a storybook ending. Hearing the whole stadium explode in cheers and being able to dogpile with my teammates was a moment I'll never forget. Fans started to rush the field and seeing my family on the field who has supported me and believed in me every step of the way in life was the best feeling ever."
Barber was can't thank enough the support he received from Josh Berry of the Everett Merchants and Pickles manager Mark Magdaleno.
"They made this the best summer of baseball I could have ever asked for."
Barber ended up having a stellar 2024 season with a .349 batting average and a .995 fielding percentage at PLU. He tacked on almost 50 more hits during the summer to continue his torrid hitting at the plate. He finished the 2024 year with a .341 average in just under 300 at-bats. Barber had 43 RBIs and 19 extra base hits over the spring and summer.
He looks to lead the Lutes back to the NWC tournament this upcoming season. He and a senior-laden team have the experience and talent to bring another NWC title back to Luteville.
