Jonathan Barratt
| IP | 318 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.642 |
| WHIP | 1.506 |
| BB/9 | 4.585 |
| SO/9 | 7.925 |
- Full name Jonathan Barratt
- Born 03/19/1985 in Stoneham, MA
- Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 165 / Bats: R / Throws: L
- School Hillcrest
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Drafted in the 5th round (128th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003 (signed for $300,000).
View Draft Report
LHP Jon Barratt is listed at 5-foot-10 and some scouts say he's no bigger than 5-foot-8. But that hasn't stopped him from putting up big numbers with a lightning quick arm. Barratt fanned 20 in his first start of the spring and has won all six of his starts through the district playoffs, not allowing an earned run while surrendering 11 hits and seven walks and striking out 101 in 45 innings. He's a complete pitcher with five workable pitches, the best of which are his low-90s fastball, a hard curveball and a mid-80s splitter. He maintains his velocity and throws without effort. If Barratt were 6-foot-2, he'd be an easy first-round pick.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Rays realize they made a mistake with Barratt in 2005. After his impressive pro debut at short-season Hudson Valley in 2004, he moved from the rotation to the bullpen and jumped to high Class A. Battling his control and confidence, he wound up posting a 6.59 ERA in 36 outings. Tampa Bay thought the lefty's small frame would respond better to a relief role, but corrected its error and sent Barratt back to the California League as a starter in 2006. If he hadn't finished four outs short of qualifying for the ERA title after skipping his final start to rest a groin injury, his 2.93 mark would have led the league by 0.75. Though he's just 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, Barratt throws with little effort and has an exceptionally quick arm that delivers low-90s fastballs. His hard curve is one of the best lefty breaking balls in the system, and he throws his offspeed pitches from a variety of arm angles. The Rays also like his toughness and resiliency and saw his confidence return with every start he made last year. Barratt needs to become more consistent with his changeup while moving up to Double-A in 2007. The scrappy southpaw will remain a starter for the foreseeable future. -
It took nearly a year, but the Rays were enthused when Barratt finally made his pro debut. A fifth-round pick in 2003, he didn't sign for $300,000 until that August. He spent that summer serving as the ace of the U.S. junior national team that won a silver medal at the Pan American Cup in Curacao. Limited by a sore arm in extended spring training, he saw his first official game action last June. Though tight pitch counts contributed, he didn't allow more than two earned runs in any of his 10 starts against more experienced hitters in the short-season New-York Penn League. Barratt has an amazingly quick arm and exceptional mechanics that produce stunning stuff considering his size, which is listed generously at 5-foot-9. With little effort, he throws low-90s fastballs with good movement. His changeup has good depth and can be a plus pitch, while his hard curveball shows considerable promise despite its occasional inconsistency. Barratt also has little trouble throwing strikes. The biggest concern is his slight build, which leads to questions about his durability. In addition to his setback in extended spring training, he strained his back in August. That ended the possibility of a late-season promotion to low Class A, where he'll pitch in 2005. -
Though the Devil Rays have limited money and already had spent most of their 2003 draft budget, they found $300,000 late last summer to sign Barratt, a fifth-rounder. Adding him to a draft class that started with Delmon Young, James Houser and Travis Schlichting makes it one of the strongest in Tampa Bay annals. He spent the summer as the ace of the U.S. junior national team that won the silver medal at the Pan American Cup in Curacao, winning twice while fanning 26 in 13 innings. Barratt had one of the quickest arms in the draft and has dominated amateur competition. If he were taller--he's listed at 5-foot-10 and scouts say that's being kind--he would have been a first-round pick. He generates low-90s velocity with arm speed rather than leverage, and his delivery is free and easy. Barratt's fastball is just one of four quality pitches he throws. His mid-80s splitter, hard curveball and changeup all are plus pitches at times. After a solid showing in instructional league, he'll probably make his pro debut in low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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As Holmberg put it, there's a lot that comes out of Barratt's small frame. Just 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, he's not a stereotypical little lefty. He can pitch into the low 90s with his fastball, and his plus curveball is his bread-and-butter pitch. He has an incredibly quick arm, so he throws with little effort, allowing him to maintain very good command. He has begun to learn a changeup, and he flashed an intriguing splitter in high school. Barratt also had some arm fatigue late in the season, and his size will always be a concern. Though he started for Hudson Valley, he may not be able to go deep into games, which would mean his future lies in the bullpen.
