Eric Barnes, Sean Harrington and Max Rao honored for career excellence, leadership and lasting contributions to Bay Area adult baseball

 

 

Key takeaways

• The San Jose National Adult Baseball Association has named Eric Barnes, Sean Harrington and Max Rao to the inaugural 2026 SJ NABA Hall of Fame Class.

 

• The three inductees are being recognized for sustained on-field excellence, sportsmanship, leadership and dedication to the Bay Area adult baseball community.

 

• Full career profiles, statistics and Hall of Fame information are available at sjnaba.org/halloffame.

 

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, Calif., Aug. 7, 2026 - The San Jose National Adult Baseball Association (SJ NABA) today announced Eric Barnes, Sean Harrington and Max Rao as the three members of its inaugural 2026 Hall of Fame Class. The class establishes the highest individual honor awarded by the league and recognizes careers defined by exceptional performance, service and leadership.

 

The inaugural class was selected using criteria that include tenure, dedication to the league, service as an ambassador for adult baseball, outstanding on-field performance, sportsmanship and leadership. The Hall of Fame considers each player's full recorded adult baseball career and the role he played in shaping the community now represented by SJ NABA.

 

"An inaugural class defines what a Hall of Fame will stand for, and Eric, Sean and Max represent the standard we want this honor to carry," said Andrew Kutsenda, president of SJ NABA. "Their statistics are exceptional, but their longevity, sportsmanship, leadership and commitment to this baseball community are what make them foundational members of the SJ NABA Hall of Fame."

 

Eric Barnes

Barnes has established one of the most accomplished offensive careers in the league's historical records. Across 379 career games and 24 seasons, he has produced a .416 batting average, a 1.016 OPS, 131 extra-base hits and 333 RBIs. His combination of power and bat-to-ball skill has made him exceptionally difficult to strike out.

 

Barnes has recorded only 45 strikeouts in more than 1,400 career plate appearances, producing a career strikeout rate below 3 percent. His sustained offensive production over more than 15 years makes him a defining member of the inaugural class.

 

Sean Harrington

Harrington enters the Hall of Fame as an accomplished left-handed pitcher, two-way player and longtime coach. Over an 11-year pitching career, he has worked 570 innings and recorded a 2.51 ERA across 156 appearances, including 94 starts. He has surpassed 500 career strikeouts while maintaining a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

 

Harrington has also made a significant impact at the plate, compiling a .326 career batting average and .847 OPS across 806 plate appearances. Beyond his two-way performance, he has served as a longtime coach with the five-time champion San Jose Rockies, extending his influence through team leadership and player development.

 

Max Rao

Rao's Hall of Fame career combines offensive consistency, elite defensive performance and league leadership. He has recorded a .469 career on-base percentage and 183 RBIs across 1,214 plate appearances. Best known for his defense in the infield and, later in his career, behind the plate, Rao has compiled a .974 fielding percentage across 326 games.

 

His impact also extends beyond the field through his service as SJ NABA commissioner, where he has helped guide the league's growth and shape the player experience.

 

A permanent home for league history

The SJ NABA Hall of Fame was created to preserve the careers and contributions of the players, coaches and leaders who have elevated adult baseball in the Bay Area.

 

Each inductee has a dedicated profile featuring career information and accomplishments at sjnaba.org/hall-of-fame.

 

Media may request interviews with the inductees and league leadership, along with available photographs and supporting career information, through Communications Director Chris Hyland.

 

About SJ NABA

Founded in 2019, the San Jose National Adult Baseball Association (SJ NABA) is the largest 18+ wood-bat nonprofit adult baseball league in the United States. A 501(c)(3) organization, SJ NABA serves approximately 1,000 players across 40 teams and three skill-based divisions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. SJ NABA delivers organized competition while building a league community that supports players on and off the field.

 

Media Contact

Chris Hyland

Communications Director

[email protected]