The University of Mississippi Athletics
Xan Barksdale Signs with Atlanta Braves
7/9/2004 | Baseball
July 9, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss senior Xan Barksdale is continuing his baseball career at the professional level, as the 5-foot-11, 216-pound catcher has signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves.
A native of Madison, Miss., Barksdale appeared in 17 games over the last two seasons for the Rebels and made three starts in 2004. As the DH against Southeast Missouri, he turned in a 2-for-4 performance with a double, homer and two RBI. Barksdale batted .250 (6-for-24) in an Ole Miss uniform.
Prior to his days in Oxford, Barksdale was an All-State honoree at both Madison-Ridgeland Academy and later Holmes Community College, where he was a .370 career hitter with 21 home runs and 90 RBI.
In addition to Barksdale, six other Ole Miss players have an opportunity to play in the pros, as they were selected in the Major League draft June 6-7. Junior outfielder Seth Smith was taken in the second round by the Colorado Rockies with the 50th overall pick.
