Matt Barnes, Relief Pitcher, Miami Marlins
Date of Birth: 6/17/1990
Birthplace: Danbury, Connecticut
College: University of Connecticut
Matt Barnes, relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins, was a top player at the University of Connecticut. In 2011, he was named the Big East Pitcher of the Year.
Barnes was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2011. He played in Boston's minor league system from 2012 through part of 2015. He was originally a starting pitcher and he transitioned to being a relief pitcher in 2014. In 90 games (77 as a starting pitcher), he pitched 398.1 innings and he had a 3.68 ERA, a 22-25 win-loss record, and 419 strikeouts to 145 walks.
Barnes first joined the Red Sox for five games in 2014. He spent most of that season in the minors, pitching in just 9.0 innings with the Red Sox and in 127.2 innings in the minors. In 2015, he pitched 43.0 innings in 32 games with the Red Sox. He finished the season with a 5.44 ERA and 39 strikeouts to 15 walks.
Barnes finished the 2016 season with a 4.05 ERA in 62 games. He had 4 wins to 3 losses, 1 save, and 71 strikeouts to 31 walks in 66.2 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 1.2 innings in 1 games and he gave up 3 hits and 1 run.
Barnes pitched in 70 games with the Red Sox in 2017. He finished the season with 7 wins and 3 losses, 1 save, 83 strikeouts to 28 walks, and a 3.88 ERA in 69.2 innings. He didn't pitch in the postseason.
Barnes finished the 2018 season with 6 wins and 4 losses, 96 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a 3.65 ERA in 61.2 innings in 62 games. In the postseason, he pitched 8.2 innings in 10 games and he gave up 3 hits, 1 home run, and 1 run.
Barnes pitched in 70 games in 2019. He finished the season with 5 wins and 4 losses, 4 saves, 110 strikeouts to 38 walks, and a 3.78 ERA in 64.1 innings.
Barnes pitched in 24 games in 2020. He finished the season with 1 win and 3 losses, 31 strikeouts to 14 walks, 9 saves, and a 4.30 ERA in 23.0 innings.
Barnes spent time on the IL in 2021. He finished the season with 6 wins and 5 losses, 24 saves, 84 strikeouts to 20 walks, and a 3.79 ERA in 54.2 innings in 60 games. In the postseason, he gave up 1 hit and no runs in 1.0 innings in 1 game.
Barnes was traded to the Marlins on January 30, 2023.
Career pitching statistics for Barnes through 2021 include:
- 385 games played
- 392.0 innings pitched
- 32-26 win-loss record
- 522 strikeouts to 179 walks
- 4.04 ERA
Charitable Work
In December, 2013, Barnes started an annual baseball clinic for elementary school children in Newtown, Connecticut.
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Matt Barnes
Baseball Reference - Matt Barnes