Matt Barnes

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #8 prospect in 2015
  Barnes exploded onto the scene in his debut in Greenville in 2012, but since then his progress has been more deliberate. He sought to develop a consistent breaking ball. His 2014 season opened ingloriously with shoulder tenderness, but after a bad first half, he had a second-half breakthrough and a September callup. Despite his spring training health hiccup, Barnes has a big, durable frame that suggests the ability to handle a starter's workload. Whether that proves his big league destiny remains to be seen. Some scouts believe that his fastball and change are good enough to succeed as a backend starter if he can incorporate the occasional show-me breaking ball, but he does demonstrate an ability to spin a curve even if his command and control of the pitch are inconsistent. If it comes--or if he develops a slider or cutter--he has a No. 3 starter's ceiling. However, the fact that the Sox gave him a September look in the bullpen suggests a potential near-term big league path for him. The Sox are keeping the door open for Barnes to be a starter, at least for now. It remains to be seen whether he spends 2015 working toward such a role in the Pawtucket rotation or if the team decides to use him out of the bullpen in the big leagues.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #9 prospect in 2014
  Barnes generated unrealistic expectations with five overpowering starts at low Class A Greenville to begin his pro career in 2012, but he hit a wall in the second half of that year at high Class A Salem. He then saw his walk rate and vulnerability to hard contact increase at Double-A Portland in 2013. Still, his strikeout rate of 11.3 per nine innings topped Eastern Leaguers with at least 100 innings. Barnes is a big, durable pitcher who works at 93-96 mph and has touched 98 with the ability to command his fastball to both sides and get swings and misses in the strike zone. He's developed a solid changeup. His curveball has some potential but is inconsistent to the point of being mostly a non-factor. Barnes' long arm action makes it difficult to project the breaking ball to be more than average. The power, life and command he shows with his fastball, in combination with a changeup to get opponents off the heat, are sufficiently impressive to suggest a future big league starter. Whether Barnes fits best as a back-end starter or closer--or his ultimate ceiling of first-division No. 3--will depend on the development of his curveball. He'll open 2014 at Triple-A Pawtucket, but Boston's rotation depth suggests he need not be rushed in 2014.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #3 prospect in 2013
  Barnes set a Connecticut career record with 247 strikeouts and pitched the Huskies to their first-ever NCAA super-regional in 2011, before Boston drafted him 19th overall and signed him for $1.5 million. His 2012 pro debut was a tale of two halves, as he went 7-1, 0.99 before the all-star break before tiring and going 0-4, 5.74 afterward. He required just a pair of 95 mph fastballs to record two outs at the Futures Game. Barnes pitches aggressively with his swing-and-miss fastball. He effortlessly throws heaters with riding life, usually sitting at 93-95 mph and topping out at 98. The Red Sox had him scrap a slider he started to fiddle with in college and had him focus on throwing his hard curveball, a plus downer at times. Barnes is learning the need for a changeup, which he throws a bit too hard in the upper 80s but sells well with his arm speed. He's not afraid to throw strikes or pitch inside. If Barnes can refine his secondary pitches, he can become a No. 2 or 3 starter. After easing him into pro ball with 120 innings, Boston will turn him loose in 2013. He'll start in Double-A and could push for a spot in the big league rotation by the end of the season.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #8 prospect in 2012
  The Red Sox fell in love with Barnes when they saw him duel Anthony Ranaudo in a Cape Cod League matchup in 2010, and they were delighted to get him with the 19th overall pick last June. He set a Connecticut school record with 247 career strikeouts and led the Huskies to their first-ever NCAA super-regional in 2011. He signed minutes before the Aug. 15 deadline for $1.5 million. Barnes can work in the mid-90s with his fastball as a starter, holding his velocity deep into games and topping out at 97. His effortless heat and explosive life are reminiscent of Daniel Bard's. Barnes had a quality curveball in the past, though it regressed in 2011 when he started working on a slider that Boston likely will have him scrap. He has made progress with his changeup but it lacks consistency. Barnes throws strikes but sometimes misses up in the zone when he doesn't stay on top of his pitches. He has an easy delivery but it lacks deception. Barnes has better pure stuff than Ranaudo, but not as much polish and mound presence. He'll probably follow Ranaudo's path in 2012, making his pro debut in low Class A and pushing for a midseason promotion. Barnes may not need much time in the minors, especially if he regains his curve.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Carolina League #3 prospect in 2012
  Like Bundy, Barnes is a 2011 first-rounder who made quick work of the South Atlantic League at the start of his pro debut, allowing one run in five starts. He has the makings of three quality pitches with a 93-97 mph fastball, a hard curveball and a changeup. He's aggressive, throws strikes and likes to pitch inside. CL hitters got to Barnes in the second half of the season as he tired. He'll need to refine his secondary pitches as he advances, but he made good progress this year and profiles as a possible No. 2 starter. He throws with an easy arm action that bodes well for his durability but may cost him some deception.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #40 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Barnes set a Connecticut career record with 247 strikeouts and pitched the Huskies to their first-ever NCAA super-regional in 2011, before Boston drafted him 19th overall and signed him for $1.5 million. His 2012 pro debut was a tale of two halves, as he went 7-1, 0.99 before the all-star break before tiring and going 0-4, 5.74 afterward. He required just a pair of 95 mph fastballs to record two outs at the Futures Game. Scouting Report: Barnes pitches aggressively with his swing-and-miss fastball. He effortlessly throws heaters with riding life, usually sitting at 93-95 mph and topping out at 98. The Red Sox had him scrap a slider he started to fiddle with in college and had him focus on throwing his hard curveball, a plus downer at times. Barnes is learning the need for a changeup, which he throws a bit too hard in the upper 80s but sells well with his arm speed. He's not afraid to throw strikes or pitch inside. The Future: If Barnes can refine his secondary pitches, he can become a No. 2 or 3 starter. After easing him into pro ball with 120 innings, Boston will turn him loose in 2013. He'll start in Double-A and could push for a spot in the big league rotation by the end of the season.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Red Sox fell in love with Barnes when they saw him duel Anthony Ranaudo in a Cape Cod League matchup in 2010, and they were delighted to get him with the 19th overall pick last June. He set a Connecticut school record with 247 career strikeouts and led the Huskies to their first-ever NCAA super-regional in 2011. He signed minutes before the Aug. 15 deadline for $1.5 million. Scouting Report: Barnes can work in the mid-90s with his fastball as a starter, holding his velocity deep into games and topping out at 97. His effortless heat and explosive life are reminiscent of Daniel Bard's. Barnes had a quality curveball in the past, though it regressed in 2011 when he started working on a slider that Boston likely will have him scrap. He has made progress with his changeup but it lacks consistency. Barnes throws strikes but sometimes misses up in the zone when he doesn't stay on top of his pitches. He has an easy delivery but it lacks deception. The Future: Barnes has better pure stuff than Ranaudo, but not as much polish and mound presence. He'll probably follow Ranaudo's path in 2012, making his pro debut in low Class A and pushing for a midseason promotion. Barnes may not need much time in the minors, especially if he regains his curve.