Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Barber looked like an up-and-coming prospect as a freshman on Pleasant Valley High School's varsity team in Northern California, but a broken leg during his sophomore year cost him nearly all of the season. He came back strongly as a junior, appeared at several summer showcase events and has continued to perform during his senior season, even though his home area was impacted by the Camp Fire last fall.

Barber has the potential to have an offensive profile that fits well in an outfield corner. Using a wide stance, Barber has a quick swing that allows him to barrel up the ball consistently. There's current and even more future power to come in his left-handed swing. An above-average runner, Barber has recorded plus 60-yard times at showcases, is a good baserunner and generally gets good reads and routes in the outfield. His arm is solid and accurate, enough to handle right field capably.

Barber gets high marks for his makeup, with confidence he'll make the most of his tools. He is committed to the University of Oregon, where his bat and power tools could be very attractive in three years should he head to campus.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

A California prep product, Barber earned an over-slot $1 million bonus as a 2019 fourth-rounder because the Astros were intrigued by his power/speed combination. But his pop hasn't fully developed and he has lost some quickness, in large part because of shoulder, ankle and hip injuries that limited him to 189 games in his first five years as a pro. He played in a career-high 79 contests in 2023, batting .244/.358/.433 in Double-A.

When fully healthy, Barber has shown the ability to work counts, launch balls in the air and employ the entire field from the left side of the plate. He has the bat speed and strength to provide 20 homers per season, and his power plays to all parts of the ballpark. He hasn't produced high batting averages outside of 2022 and he hasn't done much damage against southpaws, so he might not be more than a platoon option.

Barber once flashed plus speed but now is an average runner who doesn't take a lot of chances on the bases. After dividing time between all three outfield positions but seeing more action in center field earlier in his career, he only had duty on the corners in 2023. With fringy arm strength, he's better suited for left field than right.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

The Astros have been waiting for Barber to take off since signing him to an over-slot $1 million bonus as a fourth-rounder from a California high school in 2019. He has shown one of the best power/speed combinations in the system when he has taken the field, but the pandemic (2020), shoulder surgery (2021) and shoulder and ankle ailments (2022) limited him to 110 games in four years as a pro. He batted .294/.400/.439, mostly in High-A, while playing in a career-high 66 contests last season. 

When healthy, Barber has shown a promising ability to work counts, lift balls in the air and use the entire field. He's still learning to drive balls to his pull side, though he has enough bat speed and strength to produce 20-homer power from the left side of the plate. He hasn't been effective against southpaws, though he's an intelligent hitter who could make adjustments once he gets regular at-bats. 

Barber has settled in as a solid runner as he has matured physically. He's aggressive on the bases and has improved his reads and routes in center field, where he's an average defender. He has arm strength to match and divided his time almost equally among all three outfield spots in 2022. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Barber's combination of power potential and speed earned him an over-slot $1 million bonus as a fourth-round pick in 2019. Because of the pandemic shutdown in 2020 and labrum surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder in 2021, he accrued just 141 at-bats in his first three years as a pro, including only 42 in full-season ball. The Astros still have high hopes for him and believe his tools and work ethic will allow him to rebound from all that lost time, and one club official likens his intensity to Alex Bregman's. 

Despite his youth and inexperience, Barber already shows the ability to work counts and launch balls in the air. He has the bat speed and strength to produce at least average power from the left side of the plate, though he can get too pull-conscious. Houston has had him focus on driving balls from gap to gap and he did a better job of using the entire field during his brief 16-game stint last season before getting hurt. 

Barber presently flashes plus speed but likely will be more of a solid runner once he matures physically. He makes the most of his quickness with an aggressive nature on the bases and in center field, where his reads and routes have improved. His average to solid arm strength fits at all three outfield positions. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Barber had one of the better power/speed combinations in the 2019 prep class, which helped him garner an over-slot $1 million bonus as a fourth-rounder. He finished strong in his pro debut and divided his 2020 between the independent City of Champions circuit (where he was the youngest player at age 19), a brief appearance at Houston's alternate site and instructional league. Besides his tools, he has impressed the Astros with his work ethic and focus, with one club official comparing his intensity to Alex Bregman's. 

Barber has a mature offensive approach for a youngster, showing the ability to work counts and use the entire field. With his quick left-handed swing, projectable strength and propensity for launching the ball in the air, he should develop at least average power. Houston had him focus on driving the ball from gap to gap during instructional league and was pleased with his progress, though his development was limited to just 16 games this year before he injured his shoulder and required season-ending surgery.

With present plus speed and an aggressive nature, Barber is a potential 20-20 player. He may slow down a bit as he fills out, which might dictate a move from center to right field. He played all three outfield positions during his pro debut and has the solid arm strength and offensive ability to profile in right.

After missing most of his sophomore season in 2017 with a broken leg, Barber returned to display one of the better power/speed combinations in his high school Draft class. Though the Astros made him their fourth-round pick last June, he received their second-highest bonus at an over-slot $1 million. He finished strong in his pro debut and ranks as the best outfield prospect in the system now that Kyle Tucker has graduated to the big leagues.

A left-handed hitter, Barber has one of the quickest bats among Houston farmhands and should have at least average power once he adds more strength. He has a mature approach for a teenager, already showing good discipline and the ability to use the whole field, so he could hit for average as well. Presently a plus runner, he offers 20-20 upside.

Barber figures to lose a step as he matures physically, which could necessitate a move from center field. He split time between center and the corners in his first pro summer, and he has the arm and offensive game to profile in right. He's such an intense competitor that one club official compared his mentality to Alex Bregman's.

Awards

SAL Player of the Week

Week	Team
06/05/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	06/28/2024	Corpus Christi Hooks activated CF Colin Barber from the 7-day injured list.
	06/21/2024	Corpus Christi Hooks placed CF Colin Barber on the 7-day injured list.
	03/07/2024	Houston Astros Prospects activated CF Colin Barber.
	02/25/2024	CF Colin Barber assigned to Houston Astros.
	04/03/2023	CF Colin Barber, and assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks from Asheville Tourists.
	04/03/2023	Corpus Christi Hooks activated CF Colin Barber.
	03/01/2023	CF Colin Barber assigned to Houston Astros.
	03/01/2023	CF Colin Barber roster status changed by Houston Astros.
	08/23/2022	Asheville Tourists activated CF Colin Barber from the 7-day injured list.
	08/22/2022	Asheville Tourists sent CF Colin Barber on a rehab assignment to FCL Astros Orange.
	08/22/2022	Asheville Tourists sent CF Colin Barber on a rehab assignment to FCL Astros Orange.
	08/20/2022	Asheville Tourists sent CF Colin Barber on a rehab assignment to FCL Astros Blue.
	08/18/2022	Asheville Tourists sent CF Colin Barber on a rehab assignment to FCL Astros Orange.
	07/30/2022	Asheville Tourists placed CF Colin Barber on the 7-day injured list.
	03/18/2022	CF Colin Barber roster status changed by Houston Astros.
	03/18/2022	CF Colin Barber assigned to Houston Astros.
	11/05/2021	Asheville Tourists activated CF Colin Barber from the 60-day injured list.
	06/18/2021	Asheville Tourists placed CF Colin Barber on the 60-day injured list.
	05/30/2021	Asheville Tourists placed CF Colin Barber on the 7-day injured list.
	04/30/2021	CF Colin Barber assigned to Asheville Tourists.
	04/30/2021	CF Colin Barber assigned to Asheville Tourists.
	04/30/2021	CF Colin Barber assigned to Asheville Tourists from GCL Astros.
	02/12/2021	Houston Astros invited non-roster OF Colin Barber to spring training.
	02/12/2021	CF Colin Barber assigned to Houston Astros .
	02/12/2021	Houston Astros invited non-roster OF Colin Barber to spring training.
	10/01/2020	OF Colin Barber assigned to GCL Astros from Astros Alternate Training Site.
	09/11/2020	Houston Astros invited non-roster OF Colin Barber to spring training.
	06/24/2019	OF Colin Barber assigned to GCL Astros.
	06/14/2019	Houston Astros signed CF Colin Barber.