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For most people, a rookie season with an ERA of 3.49 and 56 strikeouts in 59 1⁄3 innings pitched is a fantasy, but to right-handed relief pitcher Jake Barrett it was a reality.
Barrett, a native of Mesa, Ariz., played high school baseball at Desert Ridge High School and was originally drafted in the third round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Instead of signing, he elected to play college baseball at Arizona State University.
Time at Arizona State
Barrett played a total of three years in a Sun Devil uniform. In his freshman season he was primarily used in the eighth inning. Then, the next year he was awarded a starting role before finally finishing up his time at ASU as a closer in his junior year.
2010: 28 app., 29.0 IP, 3.41 ERA, 43 SO, .241 avg. against, 2 SV
2011 (starter): 14 app., 76.0 IP, 4.14 ERA, 72 SO, .259 avg. against
2012 (closer): 31 app., 33.1 IP, 1.62 ERA, 36 SO, .179 avg. against, 11 SV
Barrett would finish up his time at Arizona State tied for ninth on the all-time saves list. Also, he made the seventh-most appearances in ASU history.
He was taken in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Time in the Pros
Barrett had an impressive minor league career for three years before making his way onto the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster after the end of the 2015 season.
Over those three years in the minors Barrett worked his way up from Single-A to Triple-A. In Class AAA he posted a 4.45 ERA over 56.2 IP.
The Diamondbacks were impressed enough to add him to the 40-man roster.
After playing his first full season with the major league club, Barrett was poised to make an impact again before shoulder inflammation hindered his ability to play during the Spring.
He was sent down to play Triple-A in May after he finished a stint on the disabled list and completed his rehab assignment.
Despite the struggle with this injury, Barrett shows signs of a promising future and is a candidate to grab the closer spot for the Diamondbacks in the future. This former Sun Devil could be a name Arizona fans hear for years to come.