Scott Barnes
| IP | 27 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.333 |
| WHIP | 1.296 |
| BB/9 | 3.333 |
| SO/9 | 8.667 |
- Full name Scott Michael Barnes
- Born 09/05/1987 in Springfield, MA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School St. John's (NY)
- Debut 05/30/2012
-
Drafted in the 8th round (237th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2008 (signed for $100,000).
View Draft Report
Barnes has had an inconsistent spring, but he pitched better down the stretch after making mechanical adjustments. He was out of sync early in the season with his delivery, causing his arm to drag and limiting his extension, and he threw across his body to compensate. He worked in the mid-80s with his fastball and struggled to command his secondary stuff. But his alignment and tempo have improved in the second half, and his fastball has climbed into the 90-92 mph range with good sink. His delivery still has a head jerk, but scouts think his quirkiness adds to his deception. He shows an average slider with good tilt and good feel for a changeup, and he uses a slow curveball as a show pitch. Barnes stands out most for his competitiveness and his aggressiveness, but opinion on him is widely mixed. He could be drafted anywhere from the third to the 10th round.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Barnes looked poised to be a key piece in the Indians' bullpen in 2013, but his season went off the rails at Triple-A Columbus. Barnes had pitched well in Cactus League games but was one of the last cuts from the big league roster. His confidence suffered and his delivery got out of whack, leading to a 7.81 ERA at Columbus before a left wrist sprain cost him most of the second half. A former starter the Indians acquired from the Giants for Ryan Garko in July 2009, Barnes has a reliever's delivery and converted to the bullpen in 2012 when he was coming off a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. When he's going well, Barnes' crossfire delivery can be hard for hitters to pick up, but it's complicated with a lot of moving parts, and his command fell apart last season. His fastball is a plus pitch from the left side, working at 91-93 mph with life and peaking as high as 95. He didn't always trust his fastball in 2013, though, while his delivery issues made it hard for him to work down in the zone. Barnes can show an 84-86 mph slider with plus, late bite at times, giving him a knockout weapon against lefthanders. He also has a seldom-used straight changeup. The Indians believe in Barnes' potential as a seventh- or eighth-inning reliever enough to keep him on the 40-man roster. He'll go back to spring training with another shot at the big league club. -
Barnes pitched well in the Giants system for two seasons before San Francisco shipped him to the Indians in exchange for Ryan Garko at the 2009 trade deadline. Barnes struggled in his first full season in the Cleveland system in 2010 but rebounded in 2011 before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while fielding a bunt. Moved to the bullpen full-time last season, he made his major league debut in May and bounced up and down between Cleveland and Columbus afterward. Barnes' fastball velocity plays up when he comes out of the bullpen, sitting in the low 90s and reaching 96 mph. He worked more at 88-92 as a starter. He leans heavily on his slider, which ranges from an average to plus pitch. He also mixes in a useable changeup, though he uses the pitch less as a reliever. He has some effort in his delivery, but he has gotten better at repeating it to be able to throw more strikes. During a September callup, Barnes didn't allow a run in his final nine innings with the Indians. He profiles as a middle reliever and should fill that role in Cleveland this year. -
Barnes posted a 2.60 ERA in the lower levels of the Giants system before San Francisco traded him to the Indians for Ryan Garko in July 2009. He struggled in Double-A in 2009 and 2010, then rebounded last year, only to have his season end on July 10 when he tore the anterior-cruciate ligament in his left knee while fielding a bunt. Cleveland added him to its 40-man roster in November. Reports on Barnes' velocity vary, with some scouts seeing an average fastball that tops out in the low 90s while others have seen him reach 96 mph. He has an unorthodox delivery that has some effort, but he's athletic and made improvements repeating his delivery in 2011, which helped his fastball command. His solid slider shows flashes of being a plus pitch, and his changeup could become average with further refinement. Many scouts see Barnes as a reliever, but he could end up as a No. 4 or 5 starter. He's expected to be 100 percent by spring training and could get a big league look in the second half of 2012. -
A gangly lefthander, Barnes looked like a nifty sign for the Giants in the eighth round of the 2008 draft. He was part of a low Class A South Atlantic League championship team in his pro debut, then pitched well in high Class A last year before San Francisco traded him for Ryan Garko in late July. Barnes doesn't have top-shelf stuff, but he's deceptive, throws strikes and can finish hitters off with his above-average changeup. Pitching from the third-base side of the rubber, he repeats his mechanics and his arm works well out front. He has an unorthodox delivery and can get across his body a little, though that helps him hide the ball and aids in his deception. Barnes works at 89-90 mph and touches 92, spotting his fastball to both sides of the plate. He throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, which results in a slurvish slider that needs to improve. Barnes has the upside of a back-of-the-rotation starter and should begin 2010 in Double-A. -
Even when the Giants spend their top four draft picks on college hitters, they manage to unearth a major league arm. Signed for $100,000 as an eighth-rounder, Barnes had a spectacular introduction to pro ball. He posted a 2.06 ERA and 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings, limited opponents to a .155 average, and pitched the clinching game in the South Atlantic League playoffs. Barnes thrives on location and hiding the ball until late in his delivery, but he's more than just a finesse pitcher. He can reach 92 mph when needed and changes speed like a major league veteran. His changeup overwhelmed Sally League hitters down the stretch and his curveball is an effective third pitch. He repeats his fluid delivery well, enabling him to fill the strike zone. He fields his position well and has a good pickoff move. Barnes isn't overpowering, generally pitching in the upper 80s with his fastball, and it remains to be seen how he'll fare against more advanced hitters. Despite having little margin for error, he'll have to continue establishing the inner half against righthanders. Barnes is further along than Noah Lowry at a similar stage and profiles as a possible No. 3 starter. Because the Giants lack starting depth in the upper levels of their system, they could skip him to Double-A to begin the season.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Changeup in the San Francisco Giants in 2009
Scouting Reports
-
Background: Barnes posted a 2.60 ERA in the lower levels of the Giants system before San Francisco traded him to the Indians for Ryan Garko in July 2009. He struggled in Double-A in 2009 and 2010, then rebounded last year, only to have his season end on July 10 when he tore the anterior-cruciate ligament in his left knee while fielding a bunt. Cleveland added him to its 40-man roster in November to protect him in advance of the Rule 5 draft. Scouting Report: Reports on Barnes' fastball velocity vary, with some scouts seeing an average fastball that tops out in the low 90s while others have seen him reach as high as 96 mph. He has an unorthodox delivery that has some effort involved, but he's athletic and made improvements repeating his delivery in 2011, which helped his fastball command take a step forward. His solid slider shows flashes of being a plus pitch, and his changeup could become average in time with further refinement. The Future: Many scouts see Barnes as a reliever, but he could end up as a No. 4 or 5 starter. He's expected to be 100 percent by spring training and could get a big league look in the second half of 2012.
