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Jun 06, 2013 - Jun 08, 2013     
TBD - ,
Jake Barrett
RHP IF 6-3 235   R/R
FB
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle
3/7/12: Barrett has been an enigma in the scouting industry, pretty much since his contract as a third-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2009 draft was voided—ostensibly for medical reasons. With a powerful 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame, along with a fastball that has peaked at 98 mph, Barrett’s talent is readily apparent, but he has not been an impact player in his career at Arizona State, either as a set-up man as a freshman or a Sunday starter as a sophomore. And with his draft status at the forefront again as a junior, he has curiously made just two brief appearances to date for the Sun Devils, both in mop-up roles. Barrett has never had a documented arm issue and maintains his arm is fine, but scouts have openly questioned whether his elbow is 100 percent as he did not pitch last summer or fall, and only made one brief appearance in pre-season practice leading up to the 2012 season. He was slated to be the Saturday starter for Arizona State. Though Barrett has pitched infrequently this spring, he has flashed quality stuff that would seem to belie that he might have a lingering arm issue. His fastball has been steadily in the 94-96 mph range, and both of his breaking balls, a high-80s slider and low-80s hammer curve, have been dominant secondary pitches. But Barrett’s standing as a potential first-round pick in June is very much up in the air, and may remain cloudy until he assumes a meaningful regular role on the Sun Devils pitching staff, either as a starter or closer, and can convince scouts he is 100 percent healthy, once and for all. As one of the highest unsigned picks in the 2009 draft, Barrett entered ASU with considerable fanfare as both a record-setting home-run hitter and power pitcher. He set Arizona prep marks as a senior by drilling 19 home runs and driving in 65 runs in leading Mesa’s Desert Ridge High to a 2-A state title, but has never swung the bat for Arizona State. He was drafted by the Blue Jays as a pitcher and has focused all his efforts on the mound for ASU, and yet has barely scratched the surface of his considerable potential in two years as a pitcher with the Sun Devils and in summer competition. In his predominantly set-up role as a freshman, he went 2-0, 3.41 with two saves, while walking 10 and striking out 43 in 29 innings. He continued to pitch impressively in a short role that summer for Cotuit in the Cape Cod League, flashing a 93-95 mph fastball and the makings of two impressive breaking pitches. Those performances earned Barrett a role as the No. 3 starter for the Sun Devils in 2011, but his performance was mixed. In 14 appearances, he went 7-4, 4.14 with 21 walks and 72 strikeouts in 76 innings. Though he was slated to return to the Sun Devils rotation this spring, Barrett’s true calling may actually be as a closer as his raw arm strength and no-finesse, highly-competitive approach are his biggest selling features. He has touched 98 on occasion in short bursts in the past, and scouts say he could throw consistently at that velocity if he settled into a short role with a game on the line. Barrett’s power slider gives him a second dominant pitch to be a power closer, and he is not afraid to challenge hitters with any pitch in his repertoire. Though Barrett is usually around the strike zone and typically doesn’t have trouble throwing strikes, he has struggled with command and his biggest challenge as a junior was to throw more quality strikes.




Oct 23, 2008 - Oct 27, 2008   Rays Scout Team  22
Roger Dean Complex - Jupiter, FL
Jake Barrett
RHP IF 6-3 235   R/R
FB
93
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
88-93
CB
78
SL
CH
78
Split
Knuckle