Nick Barnese Stats & Scouting Report

IP	442
ERA	3.38
WHIP	1.258
BB/9	3.217
SO/9	7.575

Full name Nicholas Barnese
Born 01/11/1989 in Simi Valley, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Simi Valley
Drafted in the 3rd round (95th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007 (signed for $366,000).

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Barnese was raring to go this season, having missed his junior year at Simi Valley High due to a team-imposed suspension. He started his spring well, hitting 94 mph on radar guns in Major League Baseball's first-ever preseason showcase at its complex in Compton, Calif. He hadn't hit that kind of velocity consistently, but velocity isn't the best thing about his fastball. It has excellent life, especially down in the strike zone when thrown in the 88-91 mph range, and Barnese has a projectable frame that could allow him to add velocity down the line while preserving the life on his heater. He's not afraid to work inside. He's athletic and has a quick arm, with a lower arm slot that probably means he'll have to ditch his fringy curveball and pick up a slider down the line. His competitiveness and solid control of his fastball could push him into the first three rounds, but if he falls, he could move to the front of the Cal State Fullerton rotation next year as a freshman.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

Barnese has yet to turn in a healthy full season in pro ball, as he has battled tenderness in the back of his shoulder in each of the past two seasons. He missed the first two months of 2009 in low Class A, then the most of the final month last season in high Class A. However, he did throw a career-high 122 innings in 2010 and maintained the steady effectiveness he has shown throughout his career. Barnese generates quick arm action from an over-the-head delivery. His fastball resides in the low 90s and can touch 94 mph. His changeup has good depth and shows signs of developing into an above-average pitch, yet its consistency continues to lag. Besides staying healthy, Barnese needs to improve his slider and do a better job of pitching down in the strike zone. Commanding the fastball, particularly on the inner half of the plate, will also improve the quality of his other pitches. A potential No. 3 starter, Barnese has posted a career 2.80 ERA while being handled carefully by the Rays. They hope he'll be able to handle a full season of starts in Double-A this year.
Shoulder tendinitis caused Barnese to miss the first two months of last season, but he made up for lost time with a solid showing at Bowling Green. He has performed consistently while the Rays have moved him slowly, going 13-10, 2.64 with 183 strikeouts in 177 pro innings. Barnese is a bulldog who will challenge any hitter at any time. He uses whip-like arm action to deliver fastballs that sit at 91-92 mph and touch 94. When he stays on top of his hard slurve, it's a two-plane pitch with a sharp break. The bottom falls out of his changeup when it's at its best, and it could become a plus pitch with more consistency. He creates good deception with his over-the-head windup, high leg kick and three-quarters arm slot. He controls the running game with a quick pickoff move and good athleticism. Barnese needs to throw his breaking ball down and in more often. When he learns to command all of his pitches on the inner half of the plate, he'll be even more effective. He has strong makeup but can be his own worst enemy when he gets down on himself. Some minor refinements and more consistency will enable Barnese to emerge as a No. 2 or 3 starter in the big leagues. Tampa Bay can continue to be patient with his development, which will continue in high Class A this year.
After missing his high school junior season due to a team suspension, Barnese emerged as a third-round pick in 2007. Barnese has earned Top 10 Prospect recognition in the Appalachian and short-season New York-Penn leagues in his two pro seasons. At Hudson Valley in 2008, he allowed one earned run or less in nine of his 13 starts while averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings overall. Barnese pounds the lower half of the strike zone with a low-90s fastball that features excellent late life. His three-quarters breaking ball also has late action with good depth. He has good control and command, and he mixes his pitches well. He has a loose arm and some projection remaining. Barnese competes hard and relishes pitching inside. Barnese worked on his changeup during the summer. It still has a ways to go, but it shows the promise of developing into at least an average pitch. He'll need to throw more strikes against more experienced hitters. Barnese will move up to Bowling Green in 2009 and pitch in a full-season rotation for the first time in his career. While he has the ability to advance quickly, chances are he'll spend the entire year in low Class A. He has a ceiling as a No. 2 starter, though developing into a No. 3 is more realistic.
Barnese twirled a shutout in his first start as a high school junior in 2006, then was suspended for the rest of the season for violating an unspecified team rule. He returned to the mound last spring and pitched himself into the third round of the draft, turning pro for $366,000. He showed absolutely no fear in his debut, averaging a strikeout per inning and limited opponents to a .216 average. His control was exceptional, as he issued just four walks in 36 innings. In addition to having the cockiness of a gunslinger, Barnese owns a plus fastball that sits at 91-93 mph and shows good life, particularly down in the strike zone. His breaking ball is primarily a slurve with good depth and a late, sharp break. He has a quick arm and works both sides of the plate with consistency. His changeup needs work, though he has shown a good feel for the pitch. Barnese demonstrated a focused attitude throughout his senior year that led to his being a top recruit for Cal State Fullerton and a premium draft pick. The Rays are usually conservative in the development of high school arms, but a jump to low Class A isn't out of the question for Barnese.

Minor League Top Prospects

Barnese opened his second consecutive season in extended spring training but was rewarded with his first trip to a full-season league after battling through shoulder tendinitis. He teamed with Moore to give Bowling Green the SAL's best lefty-righty combination. Barnese is slow and deliberate through his windup, bringing his hands over his head and taking his time to get to his balance point. Once he's there, he explodes toward the plate and pops an 89-92 mph fastball that touches 93 and has late run. His 80-82 mph changeup and 77-81 mph curveball can be plus pitches at times, but they're still works in progress. His arm angle varies from three-quarters to high three-quarters, and when he drops his arm, his stuff flattens out and hitters get a better look at his pitches. He has a slight build with the room to add more strength. His best attribute might be his ability to throw any of his pitches in any count with confidence.
Barnese established a reputation as a strike-thrower in his pro debut last year in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, posting a dazzling 37-4 K-BB ratio in 36 innings. He continued to pound the zone but was even more dominating this summer as a 19-year-old in the NY-P, striking out 11.5 batters per nine innings. Barnese's biggest strength is his excellent command of a low-90s fastball with outstanding life down in the zone. He has a loose arm action and a projectable 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame, suggesting he could add velocity as he matures. He has an aggressive, unflappable mound demeanor and isn't afraid to attack hitters on the inner half. His breaking ball is also a quality offering, with good depth and late break. Barnese made progress with his changeup this summer, and it projects as a third average-or-better pitch.
Barnese pitched a 3-0 shutout in the first outing of his high school junior season in 2006, then was suspended for the rest of the season for violating an unspecified rule. He returned to the mound this spring and pitched himself into the third round of the draft, and continued to show a very focused attitude during his pro debut. Barnese's fastball sits at 91-93 mph with good life. His breaking ball is a hard slurve with good depth and late break, and it has a chance to become a 12-to-6 curveball. He's still working on his changeup, but his command is advanced for a high schooler. "He has a sense of arrogance and cockiness, but he's focused and confident," Princeton manager Jamie Nelson said. "He goes out thinking, 'I want to be king of the hill.' "