Matthew David Barnes...Graduated from Bethel (Conn.) High School...Attended the University of Connecticut...Married his wife, Chelsea, in 2019...They have a son, Chase, and yellow Labrador named Cali...Was the Big East Pitcher of the Year in 2011...Led the conference in wins (11), strikeouts (97) and ERA (1.20)...Donated $50,000 to the University of Connecticut for its new ballpark (opened in 2020)...The home bullpen is named in Barnes’ honor.
2023
Was acquired by the Miami Marlins on Jan. 30 and went on to make 24 appearances (one start) in his lone season in Miami...Made his eighth Opening Day roster...Opened the season strong, pitching to a 1.93 ERA (2 ER/9.1 IP) with nine strikeouts and a.182 opp. average from April 1 to April 23...From Opening Day through May 28, went 1-0 with three holds and a 3.43 ERA (8 ER/21.0 IP) with 20 strikeouts in 23 games...Was placed on the Injured List on June 2 with a left hip impingement...Transferred to the 60-day Injured List on July 28...2023 Pitch Mix: Knuckle Curve (48.5%) Four Seamer (45.5%) Split Finger (6.0%).
2022
Matt Barnes went 0-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 44 appearances in his ninth season with the Red Sox organization. Missed time from June 1 - Aug. 4 with right shoulder inflammation...In his first 20 appearances, before going on the IL, he had a 7.94 ERA in 20 appearances...From August 4th through the end of the season, Barnes had a 1.59 ERA in 24 appearances, allowing just four runs in 22.2 IP...Finished his season with saves in his final three appearances.
2021
Made his sixth consecutive Opening Day roster...Earned his first All-Star Game selection (player ballot)...Made 60+ appearances for the fifth time, the most such seasons in Red Sox history...Posted a 2.78 ERA in 27 road games (7 ER/22.2 IP), and a 4.50 ERA in 33 home games (16 ER/32.0 IP)...Posted a sub-3.00 ERA in April (2.57), May (2.70), June (2.45) and July (1.13), then a 13.50 ERA in August and a 3.60 ERA in September/October...Named AL Reliever of the Month for April, his 1st career monthly honor...Held LHH to a .156 AVG/.576 OPS (2 HR) and RHH to a .230 AVG/.670 OPS (6 HR). Missed 17 games due to two stints on the COVID-19 Related Injured List (8/3 and 8/30-9/16)...In spring training, each of his five Grapefruit League outings was scoreless (5.1 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 SO)...Began the season with six scoreless outings (7.0 IP)...Allowed zero hits to his first 23 batters faced (0-for-21)...Named AL Reliever of the Month for April...In 13 games, was 6-for-6 in save chances with a 2.57 ERA (4 ER/14.0 IP), 3 BB, 25 SO, and a .106 opponent AVG (5-for-47). Recorded his 1st career 5-out save on 5/4 vs. DET.....Entered in the 8th inning with the bases loaded and induced a GIDP, then retired the side in order in the 9th...In his first 18 appearances through 5/14, was 9-for-9 in save opportunities with a 1.89 ERA, 0.47 WHIP, and .097 opponent AVG (19.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 33 SO, 3 BB)...Did not issue a BB to his first 49 RHH faced...Issued his 1st BB to a righty on 5/22 at PHI (Segura)...Opened the season with 12 straight scoreless outings on the road (10.2 IP), allowing his 1st run on 6/6 at NYY...Recorded a save on 7/4 at OAK, fanning Seth Brown to end the game for his 500th career strikeout...Earned a hold at the All-Star Game on 7/13 at Coors Field, throwing a scoreless 8th inning (2 H, 1 BB)...On 8/7 at TOR, became the 1st Red Sox pitcher to earn a decision in both games of a doubleheader since 1983 when Bob Stanley did so on 7/26 at OAK (L, W)...Barnes took the loss in Game 1 and got the win in Game 2...Was on the COVID-19 Related IL from 8/30-9/16...Reinstated from the COVID-19 Related IL on 9/17 and pitched in six more games for BOS.
2020
Season Highlights: Allowed 6 ER in 3.0 IP against the Yankees but posted a 2.25 ERA (5 ER/20.0 IP) in his other 21 outings...Struck out 30.4% of his batters faced (31 of 102)...Assumed the closer role following the trade of RHP Brandon Workman on 8/21...from that point on, tied for the ML lead with 9 saves...Opponents hit .217 against him in the eighth inning (5-for-23) and .156 in the ninth (7-for-45)...Surrendered 0 XBH to left-handed hitters, holding them to a .167 AVG and .493 OPS (6-for-36)...In 10 appearances at Fenway Park, posted a 0.90 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and .097 opponent AVG (10.0 IP, 1 R, 3-for-31, 6 BB, 13 SO)...Allowed 0 hits to his first 26 batters faced at Fenway Park (0-for-20, 6 BB, 9 SO)...With RISP, opponents were 5-for-24 (.208) with 0 XBH. In his final 12 games (beginning 8/29), posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and .175 opponent AVG (11.0 IP, 3 R, 7-for-40, 5 BB, 16 SO)...In his final seven games (beginning 9/10), allowed 1 run in 6.1 IP and held opponents to a .136 AVG (3-for-22).
2019
Made his 4th consecutive Opening Day roster...Appeared in 70 games (T-10th in AL) to match his career high set in 2017...Was 1 of 3 BOS relievers to work 70+ games (also Marcus Walden & Brandon Workman)...Also posted career bests in SO/9.0 IP (15.39; 64.1 IP) and SO% (38.6%; 285 BF)...Among AL relievers, ranked 1st in SO/9.0 IP and 2nd in SO%...Surpassed 60.0 innings for the 4th straight season...Struck out a career-high 110 batters, tied for 3rdmost among ML relievers (2nd among AL relievers)...Was 1 of only 3 AL relievers (also Brandon Workman, Liam Hendriks) to register 100+ SO...He and Workman recorded the 11th and 12th 100-strikeout seasons for a Red Sox reliever (last: Craig Kimbrel, 126 SO in 2017)...Had a 2.63 ERA (8 ER/27.1 IP) after the All-Star break, compared to a 4.62 ERA (19 ER/37.0 IP) before...Recorded a career-high 4 saves...Led the Red Sox and finished T-8th in the AL with 26 holds (source: STATS)...Stranded 21 of his 28 inherited runners (75%)...Held opponents to a .210 AVG (51-for-243)...In 38 road games, posted a 3.25 ERA (13 ER/36.0 IP) and held opponents to a .180 AVG (23-for-128)...Made 32 appearances on 2+ days rest, posting a 2.51 ERA (9 ER/32.1 IP) in those games...Held left-handed hitters to a .174 AVG (16-for-92)...Recorded 2+ SO in each of his first 10 appearances of the year, 3/29-4/24 (22 SO in 10.1 IP)...Was the 2nd pitcher ever to start a season with 2+ SO in 10 relief outings, joining ATL's Roric Harrison (10 games, 1973)...Posted a 9.00 SO/BB ratio through his first 19 games of the season (36 SO/4 BB)...Had a season-best 9.2-inning scoreless streak that spanned 9 appearances from 4/24-5/19...Struck out 5 batters in 2.0 perfect innings on 5/15 vs. COL...Did not allow a run in any of his 10 appearances in July (8.0 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 15 SO, 0.75 WHIP)...Over his final 20 appearances of the year beginning on 8/13, posted a 1.47 ERA (3 ER/18.1 IP) with 29 SO.
2018
Posted a career-best 14.01 SO/9.0 IP ratio (96 SO/61.2 IP) over 62 appearances for the Red Sox ... Also set career highs in SO, SO/BF (.362), ERA (3.65), opponent AVG (.204) and OPS (.624), and holds (26) ... Among AL relievers, ranked 4th in SO/9.0 IP and holds, 6th in SO/BF, T-6th in SO, and T-9th in wins (6) ... Surpassed 60 appearances for the 3rd straight season (2016-18) ... Held righties to a .191 AVG (27-for-141), a singleseason career best ... Surrendered 0 HR to his 106 lefties faced ... Allowed 0 runs in 47 of 62 appearances (76%) ... Stranded 13 of 14 inherited runners (92.9%) ... Retired 44 of his 62 first batters faced (71%) ... Posted a career-best 13.0-inning scoreless streak over a span of 12 games, 5/10-6/9 ... In his 11 July outings, averaged 19.0 SO/9.0 IP and posted a 1.46 ERA (12.1 IP, 2 ER, 26 SO) ... Earned the win in the Sox' come-from-behind victory in 10 innings on 8/5 vs. NYY, completing a 4-game series sweep ... Threw a perfect 10th inning with 1 SO ... Earned the win in the Sox' 105th victory of the season, which tied the franchise record, on 9/21 at CLE ... Ended the season with 6 wins, giving him 13 over the last 2 seasons (2017-18), tied for 3rd most among all ML relievers in that span ... POSTSEASON: Made a team-high 10 postseason appearances, going 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA (1 ER/8.2 IP) and a .103 opponent AVG (3-for-29) ... Among the 45 pitchers with 5.0+ IP in the postseason, ranked 3rd in opponent AVG and T-5th in ERA ... 9 of his 10 outings were scoreless ... Held opponents to 0-for-10 with RISP ... Stranded 7 of 9 inherited runners ... Allowed 0 runs and 0 hits in his first 6 outings, with opponents going 0-for-17 with 4 BB in that time (5.2 IP) ... Appeared in each of the Sox' 7 games from Game 4 of the ALDS through Game 1 of the World Series ... Earned the win in Game 2 of the ALCS vs. HOU and in Game 1 of the World Series vs. LAD.
2017
Set career highs in games (70), innings (69.2), SO (83), SO/9.0 IP (10.72), and wins (7) in his 2nd full ML season...Led BOS relievers and ranked among AL relievers in wins (T-4th), IP (10th), games (T-8th), and holds (21; T-8th). Allowed 0 runs in 51 of his 70 appearances. Posted a 2.77 ERA (12 ER/39.0 IP) in 37 games at Fenway Park compared to a 5.28 ERA (18 ER/30.2 IP) in 33 games on the road. Held RHH to a .204 AVG (33-for-162, 51 SO). Limited opponents to a .211 AVG (12-for-57) with RISP. Stranded 15 of 18 inherited runners (83%) and retired 53 of 70 first batters faced. Induced 7 GIDP, tied with Blaine Boyer for most among BOS relievers and T-14th among AL relievers. Missed 2 games on the bereavement list (4/6-8). Was ejected from the game on 4/23 at BAL for throwing a pitch in the area of the head of Manny Machado in the 8th inning...Suspended for 4 games by MLB on 4/24...Reinstated on 4/30...Tied his career high with 5 SO in relief on 5/20 at OAK (2.0 IP) and 6/12 vs. PHI (2.0 IP). Allowed his 1st HR to a RHH on 8/18 vs. NYY (Todd Frazier)...Had not allowed a HR to the first 146 RHH he faced in 2017 (126 AB). Placed on 10-day DL with a low back strain on 8/22...Rehabbed with Double-A Portland on 8/29 at Hartford...Reinstated on 9/1. Recorded his 1st save of the season and 2nd of his ML career in the Sox' 11-inning win on 9/19 at BAL.
2016
Made his 1st career Opening Day roster...Led BOS with 62 appearances and 66.2 relief innings (T-19th in AL) in his 1st full season in the majors. Allowed 5 ER in 0.0 IP on 8/28 vs. KC, but posted a 3.38 ERA (25 ER/66.2 IP) in his other 61 appearances. Set career highs in wins (4), appearances, innings, strikeouts (71), and SO/9.0 IP (9.59). Stranded 38 of 49 inherited runners (77.6%). Held opponents to a .181 AVG (15-for-83) with RISP, the 3rd-lowest mark among AL pitchers and 9th-lowest in the majors (min. 75 AB with RISP). Finished tied with Heath Hembree (4) for the team lead in relief wins. Had a 2.93 ERA (14 ER/43.0 IP) in 35 appearances before the All-Star break and a 6.08 ERA (16 ER/23.2 IP) in 27 games after...Posted a 1.13 ERA (1 ER/8.0 IP) over his final 12 appearances of the season (beginning 8/30). Threw more than 1.0 inning in 19 of his 62 appearances; did not allow runs in 13 of those outings. Worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the 6th inning on 7/20 vs. SF...Threw 3.0 scoreless innings to earn the win in the Sox' 11-7 victory. Recorded the 1st save of his ML career on 8/9 vs. NYY (0.1 IP)...Came on with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the 9th with the Sox ahead, 5-3, and struck out Mark Teixeira. POSTSEASON: Made his postseason debut, allowing an unearned run in Game 2 of the ALDS at CLE (1.2 IP, 3 H, SO)...Relieved David Price with 1 out in the 4th inning...Allowed 1 of 2 inherited runners to score before tossing a scoreless 5th inning...Faced 1 batter in the 6th inning (single) before being removed.
2015
Appeared in a career-high 32 games (two starts) over five stints with the Red Sox... Began the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, making 17 appearances (five starts). Recalled by Boston five times: April 25, May 9, June 27, Aug. 17 and Sept. 8... Had a 1.93 ERA (3 ER/14 IP) over his first 12 relief appearances for the Sox, which spanned his first two stints with the club. Made a pair of starts for Boston on Aug. 17 vs. Cleveland and Aug. 22 vs. Kansas City, combining to go 0-2, 9.58 ERA (11 ER/10 1/3 IP)... The outing on Aug. 17 was his 1st career major league start (27th major league appearance). As a reliever with the Red Sox was 3-2, 4.13 ERA (15 ER/32 2/3 IP) in 30 games... Recorded three holds. Of the 28 runs allowed in the majors, 22 (all ER) were allowed in 18 2/3 IP over a span of 11 games (two starts) from June 9-Aug. 22. Did not appear in any games between Boston or Pawtucket over a 15-day span from Aug. 23-Sept. 6. Following his fifth and final recall of the season, posted a 0.87 ERA (1 ER/10 1/3 IP) in nine relief appearances... Had a 1.06 WHIP (3 BB), a .211 opponent AVG (8-for-38), and two holds in that span. That stretch included a career-best 8-inning scoreless streak that spanned seven games, Sept. 12-28... Held opponents to a .179 AVG (5-for-28) with 1 BB and 6 SO (0.75 WHIP). Opened the year in the PawSox' starting rotation... Had no record with a 4.50 ERA (6 ER/12 IP) over his first three outings, April 13-May 1. Posted a 3.24 ERA (6 ER/16 2/3 IP) over his next 11 appearances, all in relief from May 6-July 31. Returned to Pawtucket's starting rotation in early August, making two starts (0-1, 5.63 ERA). Was 1-0, 3.06 ERA (6 ER/17 2/3 IP) in 12 relief appearances in the minors, compared to 0-1, 4.95 ERA (11 ER/20 IP) in five starts. Averaged 9.8 SO/9 IP (41 SO/37 2/3 IP) for the PawSox
2014
Made his ML debut with BOS as a reliever after spending the majority of the season at Triple-A Pawtucket, where he was 8-9, 3.95 ERA (56 ER/127.2 IP) in 23 games (22 starts)...Participated in his 1st Major League Spring Training camp as a non-roster invitee...Missed the beginning of the season due to right shoulder inflammation...Earned the win in his season debut for the PawSox on 4/25 vs. Rochester (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO)...Went 7-6, 3.41 ERA (35 ER/92.1 IP) over his final 16 regular season games (15 starts) in the minors after beginning the year 1-3, 5.35 ERA (21 ER/35.1 IP) in his first 7 games/starts...Threw 7.0 hitless innings with 2 BB and a season-high-tying 10 SO on 8/2 vs. Columbus...Did not factor in the decision in the PawSox' 2-1 loss in 11 innings...Also struck out 10 batters in his final regular season appearance of the year, 8/30 vs. Syracuse...In his only appearance for Pawtucket in the Governors' Cup Playoffs, earned the win with 7.0 scoreless innings in semifinal round Game 2 on 9/4 vs. Syracuse (3 H, 0 BB, 6 SO)...Went 4-1, 1.76 ERA (9 ER/46.0 IP) over a span of 7 starts from 7/22-8/25...Selected to the ML roster on 9/8 and worked out of the Red Sox bullpen...Made his ML debut on 9/9 vs. BAL and threw 3.0 scoreless innings with 2 SO...Marked the longest scoreless outing for a Red Sox pitcher in his ML debut since Vaughn Eshelman in 1995 (6.0 IP)...Worked multiple innings in 3 of his 5 relief appearances for the Red Sox.
2013
Combined to average 11.3 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (113.1 IP), the 5th-best rate among all minor leaguers with at least 100.0 IP…It was the top mark in that group among pitchers primarily at Double-A or above...His 142 total strikeouts ranked 2nd among Red Sox farmhands…He and Henry Owens (169) each had more strikeouts than any Red Sox farmhand since Clay Buchholz in 2007 (171)...Gave up 1 earned run or fewer in 14 of his 25 starts…Limited opponents to 3 hits or fewer in 10 starts...Led the Sea Dogs and ranked among Eastern League leaders in strikeouts (7th, 135) and starts (T-12th, 24)...Suffered the loss just once in his 1st 10 starts...Began the year allowing 14 runs in 14.0 innings in his 4 April starts, but rebounded for a 2.65 ERA (10 ER/34.0 IP) in 6 May starts...Led Portland qualifiers and ranked 8th in the EL a 2.82 ERA (17 ER/54.1 IP) over his last 12 starts with the Sea Dogs from 6/18-8/23...In that time, lowered his ERA from 5.87 to 4.33...Fanned a season-high 10 batters on 5/1 at Reading (6.0 IP) and 7/20 vs. Reading (7.0 IP)...Promoted to PawSox for his last regular season start on 8/29 vs. Syracuse…Fanned 7 in 5.1 scoreless innings to earn the win in his Triple-A debut...Gave up 1 ER or fewer in 10 of his last 13 starts in the regular season (2.56 ERA, 17 ER/59.2 IP)...Started 2 playoff games for the PawSox, going 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA (4 ER/9.1 IP) and 10 strikeouts...Threw 5.1 scoreless frames for a no-decision in Game 3 of the Governor's Cup Finals on 9/13, a 2-0 loss vs. Durham in 14 innings...Following the season, named by Baseball America as Boston's No. 4 pitching prospect, No. 9 prospect overall...Also tabbed as having the best fastball in the system for the 2nd year in a row.
2012
Led Red Sox minor league qualifiers in ERA and opponent AVG (.225), while also pacing the system in strikeouts...Selected as the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for 4/5-15 (0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 16 K in 2 GS)...Chosen as the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April after going 2-0 with a 0.34 ERA (1 ER/26.2 IP) and 42 strikeouts over 5 starts with the Drive...Promoted to Salem on 5/5 and went 5-1 with a 1.37 ERA (7 ER/46.0) and 53 SO over his first 8 starts...Fanned a season-high 12 batters in 6.0 innings in his 1st High-A start on 5/5 at Winston-Salem...Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for 6/4-10 after going 2-0 without allowing a run over 13.0 combined innings in 2 starts, including a 7.0-inning complete game shutout on 6/9 at Potomac...Tossed 0.2 innings for the U.S. Team in the All-Star Futures Game on 7/8 in Kansas City...Entered the season ranked as Boston's No. 2 pitching prospect and No. 8 prospect overall by Baseball America...At the end of the year was Boston's No. 1 pitching prospect, No. 3 prospect overall, and tabbed as having the best fastball in the system...Also selected as the No. 3 prospect overall in the CL at the close of the season by Baseball America.
