Kinder Kid Earning Honors
May 23, 2024 02:52PM ● By Kelsey Swire
Photo: Courtesy of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Athletics Department
By Jim Gazzolo
During his time at Barbe High School, Kyle DeBarge was the leader of the Bucs on the field.
As a catcher, the entire game was played out in front of him.
The Kinder native has used that knowledge and transformed himself into a standout shortstop who is on the verge of a professional career.
DeBarge was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year this week as he continues his record-setting season at Louisiana-Lafayette.
He entered the Sun Belt Tournament for the top-seeded and 22nd ranked Cajuns with impressive numbers. DeBarge hit .361 with 21 home runs and 67 runs batted in during the regular season.
The junior hit his ULL-record homer last Saturday against South Alabama, breaking the mark of 19 that had stood since 1985. DeBarge then went one better with a second home run in the final game before the postseason for good measure.
He likely isn’t done.
Photo: Courtesy of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Athletics Department
DeBarge told The Advocate that it “felt good” to have the home run record and he was happy he got it over with so he could play stress free the rest of the season.
DeBarge’s year has vaulted him into the top of some lists when it comes to college shortstops as the Major League Baseball draft approaches. DeBarge isn’t worried about that, he still has games to win for the Cajuns.
The publication D1 Baseball has called DeBarge the top college prospect at shortstop.
“Just play ball and we’ll do the draft stuff after the season is over,” DeBarge told The Advocate newspaper recently.
DeBarge has lived up to his hype this season. He was the Sun Belt’s preseason POY selection as well.
“It’s unbelievable the ‘It’ factor that this kid has and the amount of times that he’s come through, not just this year but in his entire life,” ULL head coach Matt Deggs told the paper. “He’s a great teammate and leader. He’s one heck of a kid. You’ve got to enjoy every second with him, but this doesn’t come around all the time.”
DeBarge is just the third player in Cajun history to be awarded the Sun Belt’s top honor, but not the first from Southwest Louisiana. Blake Trahan, also a shortstop from Kinder, was named the conference’s Player of the Year in 2015. He went on to be drafted by the Cincinnati Reds that summer.
DeBarge is likely to follow in some more of Trahan’s footsteps when the pros make their selections in July.
Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese athletics. He is the host of Poke Nation on CBS-Lake Charles