Tucker Barnhart, a veteran catcher who had 12 seasons in the Major Leagues, officially announced his retirement from professional baseball on June 30, 2025. He played for several teams over his career, including the Reds, Tigers, Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Rangers.
Earlier in the season, Barnhart signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. He started the 2025 season with the Triple‑A Round Rock Express, hitting about .246 over 20 games there. He was called up to the Rangers’ major league roster on April 30, 2025, after one of their catchers, Kyle Higashioka, was dealing with hamstring tightness.
His time in the majors with Texas was brief; he appeared in eight games, going 3‑for‑13 at the plate and earning one walk. On June 1, 2025, the Rangers designated him for assignment. After going unclaimed on waivers, Barnhart elected free agency on June 3. The next day, the Rangers re‑signed him to a minor league contract.
Despite rejoining the organization in the minors, Barnhart decided to retire from playing. Over his career, he was known more for his defensive skills than his offense. He won two Gold Glove Awards (in 2017 and 2020) while with the Cincinnati Reds. His career batting line finished at about .241/.318/.351.
