Johnny Barbato
| IP | 48 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 6.188 |
| WHIP | 1.604 |
| BB/9 | 5.25 |
| SO/9 | 7.5 |
- Full name John Edward Barbato
- Born 07/11/1992 in Miami, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 231 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Varela
- Debut 04/05/2016
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Drafted in the 6th round (184th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2010 (signed for $1,400,000).
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Barbato played on a team coached by his father that wasn't competitive in South Florida's tough high school 6-A ranks. He didn't bolt the program for a private school in the area and still showed one of the state's better arms despite not having much help in the field. While Luke Jackson has better present stuff, Barbato could have a higher ceiling because he does it easier, repeats his delivery and throws more strikes. His stuff isn't that far behind, either. Barbato has a loose arm and solid 6-foot-2, 185-pound body that allows him to produce fastballs that have reached 95 mph, after topping out at 92 last year. Barbato's delivery is sound and repeatable, and he throws an average curveball with good shape and plus potential. He's a Florida recruit, and the Gators have done well holding onto top prospects under third-year coach Kevin O'Sullivan. Signability will determine whether Barbato goes out in the first four rounds or winds up in college.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A sixth-round pick out of high school, Barbato received the highest bonus ($1.4 million) of any Padres draft pick in 2010 after first-rounder Karsten Whitson did not sign. He has worked exclusively as a reliever since he entered full-season ball in 2012, and he though he has moved slowly despite the less-demanding role. Barbato might have moved more quickly in 2014 but for an elbow injury that knocked him out of action at Double-A San Antonio in mid-June. He pitches with mid-90s velocity and verve, attacking hitters with a live fastball that sinks and runs as it nears the plate. He throws a true curveball in the high 70s that features extreme break through the zone, and he locates and mixes his two pitches well enough to boast a career strikeout rate of 9.2 per nine innings. Assuming he recovers his health, Barbato has the raw stuff to zoom to San Diego in 2015 and gradually work his way up to a setup role. -
Barbato played dual roles at high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2013, closing games for the first four months before shifting to the rotation for seven starts down the stretch. In a relief role he sits at about 94 mph while dialing up to 97 with explosive life. He also generates swings and misses with a big, high-rotation, high-70s knuckle-curveball, though the Padres would like to see him refine or learn a slurvy breaking ball, something that won't be as recognizable out of his hand. Barbato shows the potential for three pitches--he also shows feel for a decent changeup as a starter--but sometimes his rigid delivery prevents him from throwing quality strikes. If he returns to the bullpen, Barbato could one day surface in the big leagues as a set-up man. -
Barbato signed for $1.4 million at the 2010 deadline, the beneficiary of surplus money that materialized when the Padres failed to sign first-rounder Karsten Whitson. That outlay more than doubled the amount received by any other San Diego draft pick that year. After starting games for Eugene in 2011, Barbato moved into a set-up role for closer Matt Stites last season on a prospect-laden Fort Wayne club that advanced to the Midwest League finals. He unleashes 91-94 mph heat and bumps 96 with a quick arm, mixing in a sharp, 12-to-6 knuckle-curve. MWL righties had almost no chance, batting .139/.233/.188 in 165 plate appearances. Barbato has some feel for a changeup he used as a starter, but it's below average and not often front-and-center when he pitches out of the bullpen. Some in the organization believe he could return to a starting role, but his mentality and mechanics--he struggles to say online to the plate with an unathletic delivery--seem better suited to a relief role. Regardless of Barbato's role, the Padres would like to see him attack batters with his fastball and not rely so much on his curve. Barring huge strides in his development, he is probably in the bullpen to stay. -
Barbato went just 2-4 as a senior at Miami's Varela High, but his 1.79 ERA indicated his pitching skill more than his record, which was more a function of playing for an uncompetitive 6-A team. He declined to transfer to a private school because his father served as Varela's head coach. Like fellow Sunshine State prep righthander Karsten Whitson, the Padres' first-round pick at ninth overall, Barbato had committed to Florida. Whitson declined to sign and honored his commitment with the Gators, but Barbato signed at the deadline for $1.4 million, a bonus amount that nearly doubled that of any other San Diego 2010 pick. He pumps 89-92 mph fastballs and touches 95, and scouts love his loose arm and sound, repeatable delivery. San Diego slaps a present average grade on his low-70s downer curveball and sees his changeup as a future average pitch. With size, projection and a potentially well-rounded repertoire, Barbato profiles as a big league starter. He signed at age 17, so look for him begin the 2011 season in extended spring training before an assignment to short-season ball.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The Padres lost Karsten Whitson to the University of Florida despite offering the ninth overall pick in the 2010 draft a $2.1 million bonus. When San Diego couldn't sign Whitson, it spent $1.4 million to sign another Gators recruit in Barbato. Barbato's body has gotten soft since he turned pro, but he still shows glimpses of the talent that earned him a seven-figure bonus. His fastball ranges from 90-94 mph and touches 95. He also throws a hard curveball, but too often he buries the pitch and hitters know to lay off of it. Barbato is working to develop a changeup, though his secondary pitches are currently below average. He also needs to improve his conditioning and ability to throw strikes.
