Tony Barnette

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #20 prospect in 2009
  Barnette had some success in his first two seasons in the organization, even making the Midwest League all-star team in 2007, but didn't really mark himself as a legitimate prospect until he skipped a level and seemingly improved from start to start in Double-A last season. He led the Southern League in strikeouts (133 in 154 innings) and ranked second in wins (11) and ninth in ERA (3.87). He always has thrown strikes with a fastball that ranges from 88-92 mph, but the Diamondbacks like to emphasize throwing quality strikes, and that's what Barnette did more of in 2008. His slider and changeup should be average pitches as well, with the slider occasionally a plus offering, and he commands those pitches well too. He can move the ball to all four quadrants of the strike zone and repeats his delivery, which has made him durable as a pro. Still, none of his pitches overpowers, he doesn't miss a lot of bats, and when he leaves the ball up he's prone to giving up home runs. So some think he will ultimately end up in the bullpen, where he spent most of his two years at Arizona State. As a senior draft in 2006, he's already 25, though skipping to Mobile and succeeding helped him speed up his timetable. He'll move up to Arizona's new Triple-A Reno affiliate and will be a candidate to fill big league openings if he pitches well.

• December, 2008 Scouting Report
  Barnette had some success in his first two seasons in the organization, even making the Midwest League all-star team in 2007, but didn't really mark himself as a legitimate prospect until he skipped a level and seemingly improved from start to start in Double-A last season. He led the Southern League in strikeouts (133 in 154 innings) and ranked second in wins (11) and ninth in ERA (3.87). He always has thrown strikes with a fastball that ranges from 88-92 mph, but the Diamondbacks like to emphasize throwing quality strikes, and that's what Barnette did more of in 2008. His slider and changeup should be average pitches as well, with the slider occasionally a plus offering, and he commands those pitches well too. He can move the ball to all four quadrants of the strike zone and repeats his delivery, which has made him durable as a pro. Still, none of his pitches overpowers, he doesn't miss a lot of bats, and when he leaves the ball up he's prone to giving up home runs. So some think he will ultimately end up in the bullpen, where he spent most of his two years at Arizona State. As a senior draft in 2006, he's already 25, though skipping to Mobile and succeeding helped him speed up his timetable. He'll move up to Arizona's new Triple-A Reno affiliate and will be a candidate to fill big league openings if he pitches well.