Barrosa’s Big League Dream Within Reach After 2023 Season of Growth
RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces compiled an outstanding final few weeks of the 2023 season, coming just one win from a chance to secure their second straight PCL title. For a large portion of the stretch, Reno was missing several key players; chief among them was standout centerfielder Dominic
RENO, Nev. – The Reno Aces compiled an outstanding final few weeks of the 2023 season, coming just one win from a chance to secure their second straight PCL title. For a large portion of the stretch, Reno was missing several key players; chief among them was standout centerfielder Dominic Fletcher and the dominant Kyle Lewis, who returned for the season's final weekend in Las Vegas.
With Fletcher out and Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas in the majors, 22-year-old Jorge Barrosa assumed leadoff duties and took on a prominent role in center field. The Venezuelan 2017 international signee crushed, nearly willing Reno to the playoffs with breathtaking defense and newfound power.
The incredible run boosted his season line to .274/.394/.456, including 20 doubles, eight triples, and 13 homers in 120 games with the BLC Nine. It was a fantastic first taste of the minors' highest level, especially considering he was an average of 4.7 years younger than his competition.
Over the last three seasons, no player in Arizona's Minor League system has more hits (356), runs (252), walks (176), or games played (336) than Barrosa, who spent his busy offseason tuning his game and getting married.
"I gotta trust in my plan and in my work before the game," he said. "That's all I gotta do, man; just trust it."
The last two seasons have propelled the dynamic switch hitter into an exciting option for the Diamondbacks heading into 2024. Scouts rave about his defense at multiple spots in the outfield, with The Athletic's Keith Law writing in 2023 that he's "one of the highest probability guys in the system."
The quietly confident but charismatic top prospect says he learned a ton from the dugout while watching his experienced teammates conquer the National League last season.
"Man… there is a lot of experience there," he said, "in the World Series, it was unreal… unreal. Thanks (to) God."
The Reno Aces will kick off the 2024 season with a three-game trip to Las Vegas beginning on Friday, March 29th. They will play their home opener on Tuesday, April 2nd, when the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, visit Greater Nevada Field at 2:05 p.m. PDT.
Single-game tickets for the 2024 season are available at RenoAces.com, texting "TIXX" to 21003 or calling (775) 334-7000.
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