Washington Nationals: Aaron Barrett completes long road back to majors

After four long injury filled years, Aaron Barrett has finally made his way back to the majors for the Washington Nationals.

For a time, Aaron Barrett appeared as though he would be a key part of the Washington Nationals bullpen mix moving forward. Armed with an excellent sinker/slider combination, Barrett was beginning to establish himself as a major league reliever before Tommy John surgery derailed his career. He then fractured his elbow during his rehab, one of the most devastating injuries a pitcher could have.

Now, after four long, painful years, Barrett is back. He returned to the mound for the Nationals on Saturday, firing a scoreless fifth inning. He walked one, and struck out Ronald Acuna Jr in his first major league appearance since August 5, 2015.

Prior to his injury woes, Barrett had been a solid reliever. Essentially serving as a right handed specialist, he had posted a 3.47 ERA and a 1.257 WHiP, striking out 84 batters with just 27 walks in his 70 innings. Most impressively, he allowed just two home runs in that time, an extremely valuable trait in the modern game.

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That long climb back began last season. Barrett stepped on the mound for the first time in nearly three years, appearing in 20 games for the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Pennslyvania League. He posted a 1.67 ERA and a 1.016 WHiP in 20.2 innings, striking out 26 batters with just eight walks.

Promoted to AA for 2019, Barrett served as the Harrisburg Senators’ closer. He notched 31 saves, posting a 2.75 ERA and a 1.051 WHiP, striking out 62 batters with 16 walks in his 52.1 innings of work. That showing earned Barrett the call back to the majors, culminating with his return on Saturday.

There is a chance for Barrett to carve a role out for the rest of the season. The Nationals have been looking for dependable relievers seemingly all year, having retooled their bullpen on the fly. If Barrett can continue to show that he is healthy, he could end up in a key role for the rest of September, and possibly in 2020 as well.

For now, Aaron Barrett will take one game at a time. Each game he has with the Washington Nationals is a testament to his perseverance and determination.