Meet the Jackfish: Greyson Barrett
When Greyson Barrett joined the Welland Jackfish he realized early on he was going to have to earn his playing time.
The 23-year-old native of Bakersfield, Calif., has an impressive resume that includes a .356 batting average with 43 home runs and 180 runs batted in over three over three college seasons at Texas Wesleyan.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound first baseman/outfielder compiled a .415 batting average with 20 home runs, 88 RBI in 200 collegiate at-bats in 2023 and was named the 2023 Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year while also earning a conference Gold Glove award for his defensive play in left field.
Yet, despite those lofty achievements, Barrett didn’t expect to be handed a job.
“I like to play left field and first as well, but coming here I knew it would be different,” Barrett said. “It won’t be like in college where I played every day. I knew I had to grind for a spot. I told myself I don’t care if I play centre field or catch or DH or come off the bench. Just want to help the team wherever they need help.”
Just over a month into his first season in the Intercounty Baseball League and Barrett has been impressed with the talent level across the board.
“One of the biggest thing is everybody’s good. All these guys from everywhere are good and I understood that early in the first two weeks or so instead of trying to figure it out in the middle of the year,” he said. “The level of play here is better, not just the starting nine, but off the bench and everyone has deep bullpens arms.”
Barrett got off to a bit of a slow start with the bat but has picked it up and is hitting .343 with 17 runs batted in in just 34 at bats over his first 12 games.
“It just takes some time to get used to this level,” Jackfish manager Brian Essery said. “He was off school for a year too. It’s different when you come in and you’ve been off for a bit and you’re just training and then you get into live games. It takes a bit to get going.
“He’s a guy who has come up in big situations. Lot of RBIs, he’s been doing that for the last three or four weeks for us.”
Barrett loves the competition.
“It’s been great. There are people who are better than me or just as capable as me. We all try and embrace it and try and be better, on and off the field,” he said.
Essery feels that internal competition is vital.
“We’ve always said it’s a hard team to play on because we have so many good players but if you produce, you play and he’s been producing so he’s been getting opportunities with the bat,” Essery said. “You don’t want nine guys going out there everyday knowing they don’t have someone breathing down their neck. On this team they know there are seven or eight guys just champing at the bit on the bench ready to do that can all play.”
Barrett, who spent two seasons in the WCBL (West Coast Baseball League) with Moose Jaw where he was recommend to the Jackfish by former player Eric Marriott, quickly acclimated himself to his new surroundings.
“It is definitely a new life, especially the first two weeks,” he said. “It’s shocking. Just like going to a new college or a new summer ball team every year, it’s pretty much the same. Try and meet the guys and try and be friends with them right away and ask how stuff works here.”
He was immediately impressed with the Jackfish’s loyal fan base.
The whole Niagara area loves the Fish and come out here. It’s not just Welland, it’s Niagara and that’s cool,” he said.
Barrett has duel US-Canadian citizenship — he spent time in his father’s native Winnipeg as a child — and also loves hockey where he was a forward.
Barrett gave up his stick and skates to concentrate on baseball a few years ago and now wants to play as long as possible.
“As long as I love the game, I plan on doing this for at least a few more years,” he said.
Barrett graduated with a degree in criminal justice from Texas Wesylane last year.
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