Former Temple outfielder Sean Barksdale was released by Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros on March 31, Baseball America reported.

The Astros selected Barksdale with the 1,151st pick in the 38th round of MLB’s June draft. He reported to the Tri-City ValleyCats, the club’s Class-A short-season New York-Penn League affiliate.

From June 17 until the end of his season Sept. 1 (when he had surgery to repair a torn meniscus), Barksdale batted .175 with 18 hits, two home runs, eight RBIs and two stolen bases in 37 games.

In 2009, his final season as an Owl, Barksdale hit .371 with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs and 53 runs scored. He was named Big 5 Player of the Year and was selected first-team All-Atlantic Ten Conference.

*Kyle Gauss contributed to this report.