Scott Barlow’s latest run with the Royals didn’t last long. The former Kansas City closer, who returned on a minor league deal in early July after the Athletics let him go, has been released, according to the MiLB.com transaction log.
It’s been a strange year for the 33-year-old, and the split in his numbers tells the story. His stint with Oakland was rough almost entirely at the club’s home settings, where he was hammered for 22 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings between West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park and a short stay at the A’s Triple-A facility in Summerlin.
He allowed six homers in those outings. Away from home, though, Barlow gave up just two runs over 17 2/3 innings.
That looked like the kind of profile that might get a fresh start somewhere else. Instead, his work for Omaha has been even shakier in some ways.
In 14 1/3 innings for the Storm Chasers, he has allowed nine earned runs and posted a 5.65 ERA. The bigger problem has been his control: 15 walks in 67 batters faced, a 22.4% walk rate, plus one hit batter and three wild pitches.
He’s also surrendered five home runs, which works out to 3.14 per nine innings.
The velocity drop is hard to ignore. Barlow’s sinker has averaged 92.1 mph in his career and his four-seamer 93.4 mph.
Last year with the Reds, those pitches sat at 92.5 mph and 92.2 mph. With the A’s, both were down to 89 mph.
In Omaha, they’ve been at 89.6 mph on the sinker and 88.1 mph on the four-seamer.
That’s a far cry from the version of Barlow the Royals leaned on during his peak in 2021-22. Over those two seasons, he logged 148 2/3 innings with a 2.30 ERA, a 28.2% strikeout rate, an 8.4% walk rate, 40 saves and 20 holds.
Since then, he’s settled in as more of a useful but wild setup option, putting up a 4.28 ERA and a 13% walk rate across 191 1/3 innings from 2023-25. This is the first season in which he hasn’t been able to hold a major league roster spot at all.
Even with the recent struggles, Barlow could still get another minor league opportunity. Another team may decide to take a shot before the Sept. 1 postseason eligibility deadline, especially since clubs in the race often stockpile veteran relievers this time of year.
But the drop in velocity and the command issues - both with strikes and with keeping the ball out over the plate - are obvious warning signs. If he doesn’t land quickly, the offseason could be his next chance to reset and work on getting some of that lost velocity back.
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