Home / Sports / A's Bolster Bullpen with Veteran Scott Barlow Signing
A's Bolster Bullpen with Veteran Scott Barlow Signing
7 Feb
Summary
- Athletics sign veteran right-hander Scott Barlow to a one-year deal.
- Barlow brings 59 career saves and a 3.60 ERA to the A's bullpen.
- His ability to limit hard contact ranked him in the top percentiles.
The Athletics have added veteran right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow to their bullpen on a one-year contract. Barlow, aged 33, is expected to be a significant addition as pitchers and catchers prepare for Spring Training next week. He recorded a 4.21 ERA with 75 strikeouts and 45 walks over 68 1/3 innings for the Reds last season, making 75 appearances, a career high that tied for seventh in MLB.
Barlow possesses 59 career saves and a career 3.60 ERA across eight big league seasons. He has demonstrated effectiveness against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. His ability to limit hard contact is a notable strength, as he ranked in the 96th percentile for average exit velocity and the 99th percentile for hard-hit rate among all Major League pitchers.
This signing follows the addition of Mark Leiter Jr. in December. Barlow and Leiter are anticipated to be key components of the A's late-inning strategy, alongside pitchers like Elvis Alvarado, Tyler Ferguson, and Michael Kelly. Barlow's pitch mix includes a fastball between 92-93 mph and a sweeper, which serves as his primary putaway pitch.
