Austin Barnes
A defensive-minded catcher who became the trusted battery mate for baseball's elite pitchers during the Los Angeles Dodgers' recent championship runs.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American baseball player·Birthday: December 28·Millennials
Biography
Austin Barnes carved out a vital, if understated, decade-long career with the Los Angeles Dodgers by mastering the parts of baseball that don't make headlines. A converted infielder drafted by the Marlins, he was traded to the Dodgers where his future was defined not by his bat, but by his glove and game-calling. Barnes became a specialist in handling elite, complex pitching staffs. He was the preferred catcher for ace Clayton Kershaw in critical moments and formed a formidable partnership with pitchers like Walker Buehler and Julio Urías. While he split time as a backup, his value peaked in the postseason, where his defensive reliability and occasional, timely hits made him a manager's favorite. His two World Series rings in 2020 and 2024 are testaments to his role as a crucial connective tissue in a modern baseball machine built on pitching dominance.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Austin was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Austin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Austin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two World Series championships with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2020, 2024).
- Caught Clayton Kershaw's 13-strikeout performance in Game 1 of the 2020 World Series.
- Hit a crucial solo home run in the Dodgers' Game 3 victory of the 2017 World Series.
Did You Know?
He played college baseball at Arizona State University, a noted baseball program.
He was originally drafted as a second baseman by the Florida Marlins in 2011.
He has represented the Mexico national baseball team in international competition.
“My job is to handle the staff and control the running game.”
