Cleveland Indians Scott Barnes: The Forgotten Southpaw

Feb 24, 2014; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians pitcher Scott Barnes takes part in the annual photo day at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

Injuries & Options Put Future With Indians In Doubt

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The Cleveland Indians acquired Scott Barnes from the San Francisco Giants on July 27, 2009 in exchange for Ryan Garko.

For the third time in the last four seasons he had his season ended due to an injury.

In 2011 he tore his ACL, in 2013 he sprained his left wrist, and this season his season ended at the end of June with a left lat strain.

While pitching with the Indians Triple-A affiliate Columbus Clippers he posted a record of 3-2 with a 3.69 ERA  (13ER/31.2IP) striking out 35 batters while issuing 15 unintentional walks.

The 27-year old lefty will be out of options next spring  meaning that he will have to clear waivers in order for the Indians to outright him to the minors. With southpaws Marc Rzepczynski, Kyle Crockett, and Nick Hagadone ahead of him on the depth chart it seems unlikely that he will be in camp with the Indians come February.

The question is will the Indians keep him on the 40-man roster over the winter and try to include him in a trade or will they hold on to him to keep left handed depth on the roster into spring training?

Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 8th round of the 2008 draft he showed promise as a starter with an above 90-mph hour fastball and quality slider but was never able to find the remedy for his control issues.

In 2011 his second full year with the Indians organization, he appeared to be on his way to finally putting it all together posting a 8-4 record with a 3.45 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) with all but two appearances (both starts) coming for the Clippers.   In his July 10th start against the Detroit Tigers Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens he came off the mound to field a bunt but tore his anterior cruciate ligament ending his season and stunting the progress he had made.

He returned to full health by spring training the following season and made his major league debut on May 30th against the Kansas City Royals working one scoreless inning walking two, hitting a batter, and recording a strikeout. He spent the 2012 season traveling the I-71 corridor from Columbus to Cleveland making four separate trips to the Indians 25-man roster. Overall he appeared in 16 games posting a 4.26 ERA (9ER/19IP) striking out 16 and walking 7.

He started the 2013 season with the Clippers but received an early call to the Indians at the end of April but was ineffective in six appearances and was sent back to Columbus. He struggled with the Clippers appearing in 23 games posting a 7.81 ERA (24ER/27.2IP) and while he struck out 35 batters he issued 20 walks. His 2013 season came to an end after spraining his wrist on July 2, 2013 against the Tampa Bay Rays Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls.

He seemed to be positioning himself for inclusion into the never ending 2014 bullpen shuffle carrying a 3.69 ERA (13ER/31.2IP) striking out 35 and issuing 15 non-intentional walks but on June 27th the injury bug hit him again. A strained left lat cost him the remaining two-plus months of the season leaving his future with the Indians organization in doubt.