Harrisburg Senators manager Matt LeCroy couldn’t get the words out before he teared up, telling embattled reliever Aaron Barrett was being called up to the Majors by the Washington Nationals.
Barrett’s long journey back to majors has one of inspiration, but persistence.
Following an impressive rookie season in 2014 that saw him post a 2.66 ERA, Barrett’s career took a turn for worse. His wild pitch in the Game 4 of NLDS led to the game-winning run and the Nationals being eliminated from the postseason.
He then underwent Tommy John surgery in Sept. 2015. While rehabbing back, he suffered a gruesome fractured elbow during a sim game in Florida on Jul. 23, 2016 that delayed any return to the Nationals.
Barrett signed a minor league contract with the Nationals in 2017 after missing the entire 2016 season. He didn’t make his professional return to the field until Jun. 15, 2018 with Short Season-A Auburn.
Since, Barrett posted a 1.4 ERA in 20 appearances with Auburn in 2018. After re-signing with the Nats on another minor league deal, Barrett was assigned to Double-A Harrisburg. There he posted a 2.75 ERA and 1.051 WHIP in 50 appearances over 52 1/3 innings this year.
Now 31 years of age, Barrett will get the opportunity that he has been battling so hard for. He will join the Nationals as part of their September call-ups as the club tries to maintain their six-game lead in the NL wild card race.
