Padres Acquire RHP Scott Barlow from Royals

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres have acquired right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for right-handers Jesus Rio and Henry Williams, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller announced today. To make room for Barlow on the 40-man roster, infielder Brandon Dixon was designated for assignment.

Barlow, 30, is 2-4 with 13 saves, a 5.35 ERA (23 ER, 38.2 IP) and 47 strikeouts in 38 relief appearances this season. He has held right-handed hitters to a .186 (13-for-85) average in 2023, and his 10.94 SO/9.0 IP ratio ranked 23^rd among all American League relievers at the time of the trade. From 2021-22, Barlow posted a 2.30 ERA (38 ER, 148.2 IP) with 40 saves and a .211 opponents average, 1.10 WHIP and 168 strikeouts (10.17 SO/9.0 IP) in 140 games for the Royals.

Originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 6^th round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Golden Valley High School (Calif.), Barlow is 20-16 with 56 saves, a 3.39 ERA (114 ER, 302.2 IP) and 361 strikeouts in 277 career appearances, all with the Royals. He is one of only 11 pitchers in the majors since the start of 2021 with at least 10 wins and 50 saves, and he ranks 9^th among all AL relievers in strikeouts over that stretch.