Barnes only started 42 games behind the plate, but his .264 batting average was his best in seven years
Behind only Clayton Kershaw, who debuted with the Dodgers in 2008, no player has been with the team longer than catcher Austin Barnes. Barnes played in 54 games for the Dodgers in 2024, the lowest in career since 2016 if you dismiss the shortened 2020 season. While primary catcher Will Smith caught the majority of the Dodgers’ games in 2024, Barnes posted his best offensive numbers since 2017 in various categories.
A ninth-round draft pick by the Marlins back in 2011, Barnes turns 35 in December. He has spent his entire big league career in Dodger Blue. The veteran made his MLB debut with the Dodgers back in 2015, and 2025 will be his 11th season in the Dodgers organization.
Barnes has never been an everyday player, but he has proven valuable to the Dodgers beyond the numbers. He’s been the backup catcher for the Dodgers for his entire big league career and somewhat of a personal catcher to Clayton Kershaw.
Smith signed a 10-year extension back in March to lock him in as the Dodgers primary catcher for the next 10 seasons. The Dodgers have quite a few promising catching prospects in the minor league system including Diego Cartaya and Dalton Rushing. Even with plenty of depth at the position in the higher levels of the minors, Barnes reputation amongst his fellow players is nothing but respect for his work behind the plate. It was a small sample size, but Barnes finished the season with +2 Defensive Runs Saved in 54 games this year.
The magnitude of other signings the Dodgers have made recently makes it look like a small price to pay for a long-tenured veteran who has been a reliable constant for the Los Angeles pitching staff for over a decade.
Barnes hit .264/.331/.307 with a 86 wRC+ in his 54 games this season, with his best batting average since 2017. He had a career-best 12-game hitting streak from June to July.
Smith’s offense and primary role as catcher plus some late injuries limited Barnes to 42 starts behind the plate. The reliable backstop somehow broke two bones in his big toe on his left foot in the latter part of the season. Barnes missed the minimum time of 10 days on the injured list for each toe injury.
Barnes is one of four catchers on the Dodgers 40-man roster.
2024 particulars
Age: 34
Stats: 54 games, .264/.331/.307/.638, 1 HR, 86 wRC+
Salary: $3.5 million
Game of the year
On August 29, Austin Barnes had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored in his return from the injured list.
Roster status
The second-longest-tenured player on the team returns for his 11th season, as the Dodgers exercised Austin Barnes’ $3.5 million club option for 2025.