Barrett Barnes

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #24 prospect in 2016
  Barnes was a three-time all-Big 12 Conference selection and became the highest-drafted player in Texas Tech history when the Pirates made him the 45th overall selection in 2012 and signed him for $1 million. While Barnes has showed flashes of the ability that made him a star in college, injuries have held him back in pro ball. He has spent time on the disabled list with shin, back and hamstring problems and has just 845 plate appearances in four minor league seasons. He did play in a career-high 95 games and reached Double-A Altoona in 2015. Barnes probably won't hit for a high average, but he has a patient approach, good hand-eye coordination--his father had him hitting pecans with a broomstick when he was 2 years old--and the ability to pull the ball for power. Despite myriad leg injuries, Barnes still has good speed and is a savvy baserunner. He has enough range to play a fringe-average center field, but a lack of arm strength, partially due to having elbow surgery as a high school player in Austin, Texas, likely makes left field his fallback. Barnes will start 2016 at Altoona, and his power-speed combination makes him a potential option for the Pittsburgh bench, but the most important thing he can do is put in a full, healthy season.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #23 prospect in 2015
  The Pirates thought highly enough of Barnes to use the No. 45 pick on him in the 2012 draft--the highest a Texas Tech player had been selected since Matt Miller in 1996--and he has proven to be an interesting player when healthy. However, Barnes appeared in just 101 games in his first three seasons thanks to shin, back, hamstring and oblique injuries. When healthy, he has shown the ability to project as an average hitter with plus speed. He draws enough walks to be a potential top-of-the-order hitter, with the range to be at least an average center fielder with an average arm. The injuries are a bit of a puzzle because the personable Barnes is a hard worker and keeps himself in good shape. Barnes will begin 2015 at high Class A Bradenton. Under normal circumstances, he would be higher up the chain by now, so he has a lot of lost time to make up if he is going to remain on the Pirates' radar.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #13 prospect in 2014
  Taken 45th overall in the 2012 draft, Barnes became the highest-drafted player in Texas Tech history and then signed for $1 million, a bonus that was $136,400 under the recommended slot. Scouts like a lot of things about Barnes, primarily that he has plus speed and range to remain in center field, along with a quick bat that ought to provide at least average power for the position. Barnes may not hit for a high average, but he offsets that liability by taking walks and getting on base at a good clip. His biggest problem has been staying healthy. He missed the final month of 2012 at short-season State College because of a stress-related shin injury, then was limited to 46 games in 2013 at low Class A West Virginia because of lower back stiffness and a severely strained right hamstring. Barnes will likely begin 2014 at high Class A Bradenton. He's an intriguing prospect and has the tools, including an average arm, to move quickly through the system, but his durability is obviously in question.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #9 prospect in 2013
  When first-rounder Mark Appel decided to return to Stanford, Barnes became the Pirates' top signee in the 2012 draft. The nephew of Anthony Young, who lost a major league-record 27 straight decisions with the Mets in 1992-93, Barnes went 45th overall and signed for $1 million. He earned New York-Penn League all-star recognition before a stress-related shin injury ended his pro debut a month early. Barnes has the potential to do it all offensively. He has a quick bat, good plate discipline, plus raw power and above-average speed. He's willing to work the count more than most young hitters. He has trouble with breaking pitches and gets pull-conscious at times, which may limit his ability to hit for average. Barnes is still learning to steal bases after getting caught in six of his 16 attempts as a pro. He may be able to stick in center field if he can improve his jumps with more experience. His arm is fringy. Barnes obviously will have more value if he can remain in center field, but he should have enough power to profile as a regular if he has to move to left field. He should reach high Class A at some point during his first full pro season and may not need much more than two years of minor league seasoning.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #41 prospect in 2012 draft
  Barnes has a chance to go in the first round and probably won't last past the sandwich round, which would make him the second-highest draft pick in Texas Tech history behind Doug Harris (fifth overall, 1989). Barnes' plus righthanded power and the possibility that he could stick in center field make him attractive. He packs a lot of strength into his 6-foot-1, 219-pound frame and offers a lot of bat speed. He's willing to take walks when pitchers don't challenge him, though he may not hit for a high average because his swing can get rotational and he's a dead-pull hitter. Barnes has plus straight-line speed (6.6-6.7 seconds in the 60-yard dash) but it doesn't always play that way. He does have 50 steals in 56 career attempts. If Barnes has to move to corner--likely left field because he has a below-average arm--he has enough power to profile there.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked New York-Penn League #10 prospect in 2012
  Barnes' blend of power (34 home runs in three years) and speed (50 steals in 56 tries) made him the second-highest-drafted player in Texas Tech history, and he signed for $1 million after going 45th overall in June. He earned NY-P all-star honors before a stress-related shin injury ended his season a month early. With his electric bat speed, Barnes has a chance to develop above-average power to his pull side. He also has a patient approach and a good feel for the strike zone, making him a walk machine. His swing can get rotational, however, so scouts aren't convinced he'll hit for average. Barnes has above-average speed underway and is a savvy baserunner. His speed gives him a chance to stick in center field, where his arm is average. He also should have enough power to hold down left field if he winds up having to move.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: When first-rounder Mark Appel decided to return to Stanford, Barnes became the Pirates' top signee in the 2012 draft. The nephew of Anthony Young, who lost a major league-record 27 straight games with the Mets in 1992-93, Barnes went 45th overall and signed for $1 million. He earned New York-Penn League all-star recognition before a stress-related shin injury ended his pro debut a month early. Scouting Report: Barnes has the potential to do it all offensively. He has a quick bat, good plate discipline, plus raw power and above-average speed. He's willing to work the count more than most young hitters. He has trouble with breaking pitches and gets pull-conscious at times, which may limit his ability to hit for average. Barnes is still learning to steal bases after getting caught in six of his 16 attempts as a pro. He may be able to stick in center field if he can improve his jumps with more experience. His arm is fringy. The Future: Barnes obviously will have more value if he can remain in center field, but he should have enough power to profile as a regular if he has to move to left field. He should reach high Class A at some point during his first full pro season and may not need much more than two years of minor league seasoning.