John Edward Barbato (/bɑːrˈbt/ bar-BAY-toh;[1] born July 11, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, and Detroit Tigers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Johnny Barbato
Barbato with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1992-07-11) July 11, 1992 (age 32)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 5, 2016, for the New York Yankees
NPB: April 2, 2019, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record1–3
Earned run average6.14
Strikeouts40
NPB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record3–5
Earned run average5.56
Strikeouts49
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Playing career

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Barbato attended Felix Varela High School in Miami, Florida. He received a scholarship from the University of Florida.

San Diego Padres

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The San Diego Padres selected Barbato in the sixth round, with the 184th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with San Diego rather than attend college.[2] He made his professional debut in 2011 with the Low–A Eugene Emeralds, posting a 4.89 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 15 appearances (13 starts).[3] Barbato spent the 2012 season with the Single–A Fort Wayne TinCaps, making 48 appearances out of the bullpen and logging a 6–1 record and 1.84 ERA with 84 strikeouts across 73+13 innings.[4]

In 2013, Barbato made 49 appearances for the High–A Lake Elsinore Storm, registering a 5.01 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 14 saves across 88 innings pitched.[5] He made 27 relief outings for the Double–A San Antonio Missions in 2014, recording a 2.87 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 16 saves across 31+13 innings of work.[6]

New York Yankees

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On December 29, 2014, the Padres traded Barbato to the New York Yankees in exchange for Shawn Kelley.[7] He made 40 appearances split between the Double–A Trenton Thunder and Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, accumulating a 6–2 record and 2.67 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 67+13 innings. The Yankees added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.[8]

Barbato made his major league debut on April 5, 2016. He was optioned down to Triple–A Scranton on May 9,[9] recalled on August 4, and sent back again on August 6. In 13 games with the Yankees in 2016, Barbato had a 1–2 record with a 7.62 ERA.

Barbato was assigned to Triple–A Scranton to begin the 2017 season. On April 13, 2017, he was designated for assignment following the promotion of Jordan Montgomery.[10]

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On April 17, 2017, Barbato was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Matt Frawley.[11][12] In 24 relief appearances for the Pirates, Barbato posted a 4.08 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 28+23 innings.

Detroit Tigers

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On January 11, 2018, Barbato was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers.[13] After starting the season with the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens, Barbato was called up on April 26 and made his Tigers debut the following night against the Baltimore Orioles.[14] Barbato was next called up on May 30.[15] He was called up again on June 20.[16] After giving up five earned runs in less than an inning two days later, Barbato was placed on the 10-day disabled list with shoulder tightness.[17] He failed to mention previously that the injury had been bothering him all season, which left manager Rod Gardenhire somewhat perplexed since he asked to throw a light bullpen session earlier that day.[18] He was designated for assignment on September 11.[19] He was sent outright to the Toledo Mud Hens after clearing waivers two days later.[20] Barbato elected free agency on November 2.[21]

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

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On December 20, 2018, Barbato signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was released on October 18, 2019.[22]

On October 11, 2019, Fighters announced that team will not sign with Barbato for next season.[23] On October 18, 2019, he become free agent.[24]

Somerset Patriots

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On January 27, 2020, Barbato signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Barbato did not appear for the club in 2020 due to the cancellation of the ALPB season because to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, Barbato signed on to play for the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift 4-team independent league created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season.[25] Barbato became a free agent after the year.

Lincoln Saltdogs

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On January 27, 2021, Barbato signed with the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[26] Barbato recorded a 0.90 ERA in 2 appearances for the Saltdogs, striking out 12 in 10.0 innings of work.

Toronto Blue Jays

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On June 1, 2021, Barbato's contract was purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays organization.[27]

High Point Rockers

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On April 21, 2022, Barbato signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[28] Barbato did not make an appearance for the Rockers before retiring from professional baseball on July 24.[29]

Staten Island FerryHawks

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On July 27, 2024, Barbato was activated as a player for the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, while concurrently serving as the club's pitching coach.[30] He was released on July 30, without appearing in a game.[31]

Coaching career

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On February 7, 2024, Barbato was hired to serve as the pitching coach for the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[32]

References

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  1. ^ "SWB RailRiders Opening Day Roster". April 6, 2017.
  2. ^ "'Under the radar' Barbato earns chance with the New York Yankees". Miami Herald.
  3. ^ "Johnny Barbato Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  4. ^ "Johnny Barbato - Baseball Stats". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Johnny Barbato - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "Johnny Barbato Player Card". baseballprospectus.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  7. ^ "Yanks trade Shawn Kelley for minor leaguer". ESPN.com. December 29, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  8. ^ "Yankees protect three from Rule 5 Draft". New York Yankees. Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  9. ^ "Yankees' Johnny Barbato reveals what he was told when he was demoted". May 10, 2016.
  10. ^ "Yankees Designate Johnny Barbato, Select Jordan Montgomery's Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "Johnny Barbato traded to Pirates by Yankees". Archived from the original on April 18, 2017.
  12. ^ "Yankees Acquire Matt Frawley From Pirates". MLB Trade Rumors. June 14, 2017.
  13. ^ Fenech, Anthony (January 11, 2018). "Tigers Detroit Tigers claim Johnny Barbato off waivers from Pittsburgh Pirates". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  14. ^ Henning, Lynn (April 27, 2018). "Reliever Barbato roughed up by Orioles in Tigers debut". Detroit News. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  15. ^ "Tigers' Johnny Barbato: Brought back to majors". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  16. ^ "RHP Johnny Barbato hopes third Tigers call-up is charm". Detroit News. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  17. ^ "Tigers place Barbato on DL after playing hurt". Detroit News. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  18. ^ "Gardenhire baffled by Barbato's injury admission". Detroit News. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  19. ^ "Tigers' Johnny Barbato: Designated for assignment". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  20. ^ "Tigers' Johnny Barbato: Sent outright to minors". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  21. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2018). "Minor League Free Agents 2018". Baseball America. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  22. ^ 一般社団法人日本野球機構. "Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters : 2019 Roster". npb.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  23. ^ "ハンコック、バーベイト投手退団のお知らせ". 北海道日本ハムファイターズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). October 11, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  24. ^ "2019年度 自由契約選手". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  25. ^ Dunsmore, Ryan (July 9, 2020). "Skeeters set rosters for summer league". Fort Bend Herald. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  26. ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball – 2021 Transactions".
  27. ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball – 2021 Transactions".
  28. ^ Atlantic League Transactions
  29. ^ "Transactions – Atlantic League Pro Baseball".
  30. ^ "Transactions". baseball.pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  31. ^ "Transactions". baseball.pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  32. ^ "Barbato to coach FerryHawk pitchers". atlanticleague.com. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
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